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Restoration of Name of Jefferson 
Davis to Cabin John Bridge 



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COPYRIGHT DEPOSm 




JEFFERSON DAVIS 

Secretary of War. U. S. A., 1853-1857 



The Restoration of the Name of Jefferson 

Davis to the Cabin John Bridge, 

Washington, District of 

Columbia 



Being the Official Correspondence Leading to This 
Restoration 



PUBLISHED BY 

THE CONFEDERATED SOUTHERN MEMORIAL 

ASSOCIATION. OF NEW ORLEANS, 

LOUISIANA 

1909 

Copyright. 1909, 

By The Confederate Southern Memorial Association. 

New Orleans, La. 






24H461 



INTRODUCTION. 

THE purpose of this pamphlet is to relate officially, in 
chronological order, the history of the restoration of 
the name of Jefferson Davis, Secretary of War of the 
I'nited States of America, to the Cabin John Bridge, at Wash- 
ington, District of Columbia — a page of American History 
restored to its rightful place. 

For the information of those who are not familiar with 
the history of the Union Arch, better known as the Cabin 
John Bridge, the Aqueduct at Washington, D. C, the follow- 
ing facts are given : 

On April 21, 1852, the Congress of the United States took 
the initiatory steps to supply Washington and Georgetown 
Avith good water, by appropriating $5,000 for surveys, &c. 
Later successive appropriations were made as follows : 1853, 
$100,000 ; 1855, $250,000 ; 1856, $250,000 ; 1857, $1,000,000 ; 1858, 
$800,000; 1859, no appropriation, but a law passed for the 
care of the aqueduct; 1860, $500,000; 1863 the masonry engi- 
neering was practically completed. The chief engineer was 
Montgomery C i\Ieigs, with Charles T. Curtis as general super- 
intendent and inspector. Much of the detail of the plans 
and drawing was by Alfred L. Kives, of Virginia. 

The measurements, including the abutments, are : over all 
length, 450 feet; single span, 220 feet; rise, 57.26 feet; at the 
crown, thick 4.2 feet; brick conduit. 9 feet diameter; and road- 
way about 100 feet above the ravine. Materials: abutments, 
of gneiss from Maryland; rubble arch and spandrels, of Sen- 
eca sandstone; and the stone arch, or ring of granite, from 
Quincy, Massachusetts. 

The first work on the bridge proper began in 1857, while 
Jefferson Davis was Secretary of War. As the construction 
of this enormous undertaking was under the supervision of 
the War Department, his name was cut on the tablet in the 
western end of the bridge. 



The War between the States was declared 1861. Jeffer- 
son Davis, then Member of Congress, resigned and returned 
to the South, where he was made President of the new Gov- 
ernment — the Confederate States of America — and was the 
only President during the existence of that Government, 18G1 
to 1865. 

Owing to the pressure incident to war, on June 18, 1862, 
Congress transferred the work of construction of the bridge 
from the War Department to the Department of the Interior, 
of which Caleb B. Smith was secretary, with William R. Hut- 
ton as chief engineer. Feeling ran high in Washington 
against Jefferson Davis for casting his lot in war with his 
own people, the Confederates, and in 1862 his name disappeared 
from the tablet in the Cabin John Bridge. 

In 1892, twenty-seven years after the Confederate War, 
the former chief engineer of the bridge — General M. C. 
Meigs — died. At once rumor renewed the old story to the 
effect that he (Gen. IMeigs) had ordered the name of Jefferson 
Davis erased from the bridge. On September 8th of that year, 
1892, a card was published in Washington, D. C, newspapers, 
by William R. Hutton, chief engineer of the bridge in 1862 
(the year the name was erased), when the construction was 
under the Department of the Interior — a card stating that, 
when the construction of the bridge was transferred to the 
Department of the Interior, the first order given him (Hutton) 
by Caleb B.. Smith was to erase the name of Jefferson Davis. 
Chief Engineer Hutton continues: "Not taking seriously the 
Secretary's remarks. I did nothing in the matter". He further 
states that a week later the contractor, Robert Mclntyre, "ar- 
rived to resume work on the bridge"; the Secretary gave 
Mclntyre the order, and that Mclntyre 's "first work was to 
remove Mr. Davis' name". 

It is hoped that this clear statement of Chief Engineer 
Hutton as the final explanation of this unfortunate act, will 
be accepted by all. His personal part in the matter should 
be satisfactory as proof of the truth of his statement. 



lu 1867 the supervision of the aqueduct was transferred 
buck to the War Department from the Department of the 
Interior. On February 16, 1909, President Koosevelt ordered 
the name of Jefferson Davis restored to the Cabin John Bridge 
by the War Department. Four days later, February 20, 
1909, the Secretary of War, General Luke E. Wright, repeated 
this order to his chief of engineers. On May 14, 1909, the last 
letter — S — of Mr. Davis' name was carved. The entire face 
of the tablet was "resurfaced", without removing it from its 
position^ and the original inscription, including the name of 
Jefferson Davis, recarved. 

For many of the above facts, I am indebted to an article 
in the "Records of the Columbia Historical Society" by Mr. 
William T. S. Curtis, vol. 2, 1899, page 293, published in Wash- 
ington, D. C. This article is full of interesting and most 
instructive information. It is greatly enhanced by a liberal 
number of handsome illustrations of the progressive stages 
of the construction of the bridge. 

Richmond is selected as the city of publication, because 
Jefferson Davis was occupying his official residence, as Presi- 
dent of the Confederate States, in this city in 1862, when his 
name was erased from the bridge. 

At no time did any ceremony attend the work of restora- 
tion. But thousands went to watch the single stone-cutter 
at work, and to listen quietly while his ringing blows sang out 
the glad news. Among them were young girls from Vir- 
ginia, West Virginia; IMaryland, North Carolina, and other 
States. Some of them begged to be allowed to climb the 
scaffold, and the good-natured stone-cutter allowed it. When 
one would designate the exact bit of stone she wanted, he 
would chisel the tiny chip into her uplifted hand, to be carried 
away a treasure. 

When the restoration was (MUiipleted. it passed silently 
into the records of a great nation. 

MRS. J. F.XDERS ROBTXSOX. 

Editor and Publication Committee' 




THE 

CABIN JOHN BRIDGE COMMITTEE 

Appointed by 

THE CONFEDERATED SOUTHERN MEMORIAL 

ASSOCIATION 

1907 



The following persons have been requested to serw on the "Cabin 
John Bridge" Committee, and have accepted:* 

Hon. Adolph Meyer, M. C. from Louisiana, Washington, D. C. 

General S. D. Lee, Commander-in-Chief, U. C. V., Columbus, Miss. 

Mr. Jno. W. Apperson, Commander-in-Chief, U. S. C. V., Memphis, 
Tenn. 

Mrs. Lizzie George Henderson, Pres't Gen'l U. D. C, Greenwood, 
Miss. 

Mrs. Geo. S. Holmes, Pres't Jefferson Davis Mon't Ass'n, Charles- 
ton, S. C. 

Mrs. J. Enders Rop.inson. Sec'y Conf. Mem. Lit. Society, Rich- 
mond, Va. 

Mrs. Alfred Gray. Act. Pres't Conf. Mem. Lit. Society, Rich- 
mond, Va. 



Miss K. C. Stiles. Regent of Georgia Room, Conf. Museum, Rich- 
mond, Va. — declined. 
Miss M. B. Poppenheim, Ladies' Memorial Ass'n, Charleston, S. C. 
Mrs. W. J. Behan, Pres't C. S. M. A., Chairman, 1207 .Tackson 
Ave., New Orleans. 

MRS. W. J. BEHAN, 
MRS. GEO. A. WILLIAMS, President. 

Cor. Sec'y. 
(Official) 



♦[Editor's Note. — At the expiration (November, 1907,) of her term as 
President-General of the U. D. C, Mrs. Henderson retired from the 
Cabin John Bridge Committee, and was succeeded by the incoming 
President-General of the U. D. C, Mrs. C. B. Stone. March, 1908, the 
Hon. Murphy J. Foster, of Louisiana, was appointed a member of the 
committee to succeed Mr. Adolph Meyer, deceased. 1908, Gen. Clement 
A. Evans, Commander-in-Chief of United Confederate Veterans, was 
appointed a member of the committee to succeed Gen. Stephen D. Lee, 
Commander-in-Chief, deceased.] 



Upon the return of Mrs. Behan from the Richmond Convention of 
the C. S. M. A. to New Orleans, she had a personal interview with 
the Hon. Adolph Meyer, Member of Congress from Louisiana, relative 
to the restoration of the name of Mr. Davis, and at this conference 
he accepted the position of official representative from the C. S. M. A. to 
the United States Go\iernment. As soon as Mr. Meyer went to 
Washington, he brought the matter at once to the attention of the 
Hon. W. H. Taft, Secretary of War. 



1907 



Extract from the Minutes of the Convention of the Confederated South- 
ern Memorial Association held in Richmond, Va., June, 1907. 

After the adoption of the resolution, Mrs. Behan spolve of the "His- 
tory of the Memorial Associations of the South," which, she said, she 
would like to recommend, saying that "it was the only compendium of 
the work of the Women of the Confederacy, '61-'65, and that every li- 
brary should contain a copy." Mrs. Behan stated that the copies on 
hand would be sold for the benefit of the Jefferson Davis Monument, to 
be erected in New Orleans, and that the cornerstone of said monument 
would be laid on June 3, 1908. She also said that there was another 
subject which she would like to bring to the attention of the Conven- 
tion, that it might be discussed and acted upon if agreeable to the 
members, and said: "Ladies, it is this: As you are aware there is, in 
■ Washington, D. C, or just outside of the city, the Washington Aqueduct, 
known as 'Cabin John Bridge.' It is a wonderful piece of engineering 
skill, and was constructed under the supervision of Mr. Davis while he 
was Secretary of War — 1853-1857 — and his name was' inscribed on the 
keystone of the bridge. In 1862, his name was ordered cut off by Hon. 
Caleb B. Smith, Secretary of the Interior, under the administration of 
Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States. The people of the 
South look upon this as an act of great injustice to Mr. Davis, and 
think the name should be restored. 

"It seems to me that this is the time fojr us to take some action on 
this matter, with the hope that we may succeed in having the name re- 
stored on or before June 3, 1908." 

A motion was then offered by Mrs. J. Enders Robinson, delegate 
from the Confederate Memorial Literary Society, of Richmond, Va.: 

'I move that, in order that the true and accurate history of the 
construction of the Washington Aqueduct, familiarly known as "Cabin 
John Bridge,' may be preserved to posterity, and in order that justice 
may be done the memory of Jefferson Davis, who, as Secretary of War, 
under the administration of Franklin Pierce, President of the United 
States, supervised the construction of this most inspiring and wonder- 
ful structure, 

"Be it resolved. That we, the Confederated Southern Memorial As- 
sociation, in convention assembled, in the City of Richmond, Va., on 
this, the first day of June, 1907, do request the United States Govern- 
ment to have the name of Jefferson Davis restored to the place on 
'Cabin John Bridge, from which it was removed during the war." 

The motion was seconded by Mrs. Robert Emory Parke, of Georgia. 
It was then open for discussion. One lady thought that Jefferson Davis 
and his cause were inore conspicuous by the absence of his name, be- 
cause it showed the petty spite of those who had ordered it cut off. The 
majority, however, were in favor of making an effort to have the name 
restored. 

Among the honored guests were Mrs. J. Addison Hayes, the only sur- 
viving daughter of Jefferson Davis. After numerous and repeated re- 
quests from the members that she express her opinion upon the ques- 
tion, she very modestly and with great feeling said: "My father con- 



9 

sidered the eras'uru of his name a great indignity, and felt that it was 
done with a view of eliminating from history the part he had taken in 
the construction of the bridge; that he had been deeply interested in 
the piece of engineering and had given it his closest attention. It was 
his wish, and also the wish of my dear mother, that the name should 
be restored in justice to his memory." 

Afternoon Session. 

Convention called to order. 

The President asked Mrs. Chieves, the Vice-President of Virginia, 
to take the chair. Mrs. Behan moved that the "Cabin John Bridge" 
resolution be taken from the table. Motion carried. Mrs. Behan said 
that she felt convinced that if we made the request referred to in the 
motion, that we would be successful; that this was an era of peace; 
that time, with its healing influence had softened much of the bitter 
feeling that existed at the close of the war; that sectional prejudice is 
fast dying out; that the men of the North and those of the South had 
stood shoulder to shoulder in defence of our common country, against a 
foreign foe; that the name of Jefferson Davis is more prominently before 
the public as' time rolls on, it is received with more respectful consid- 
eration by the people of the North, his actions are judged less severely, 
and we have every reason to hope that this request will be granted. A 
motion was then made that we amend the former motion by adding after 
"the war," and, "that we invite the United Confederate Veterans, and 
all other Confederate Associations to unite with the Confederated 
Southern Memorial Association, in its effort to have this patriotic and 
historical purpose accomplished on or before June 3, 1908." The amend- 
ment was carried, and the motion, as amended, was then read by the 
secretary, seconded by Miss M. B. Popenheim, of Charleston, S. C, and 
unanimously carried. 

Recommended that the Chair appoint a committee to present this 
matter to the proper official, and that the Confederate organization make 
an effort to have the name of Jefferson Davis restored on the "John 
Cabin Bridge" before the one-hundredth anniversary of Mr. Davis' birth. 



RiCHMOXD, Va., June 18, 1907. 
Mrs. W. J. Behax, Pres. C. S. M. A., New Orleans, La.: 

My Dear Mrs. Behan, — Your letter of June 15, 1907, inviting me 
to serve on your Cabin John Bridge Committee received. 

I accept with pleasure, esteeming it a high honor to serve in 
such capacity. Yours very truly, 

VIRGINIA MORGAN ROBINSON. 
(Mrs. J. Enders Robinson.) 



Moxtp:.vole, Tenx.. July 29, 1907. 
Mv Dear Mrs. Behax: 

Your letter of July 22nd, forwarded from Greenwood on July 25th. 
reached me Saturday. I will take great pleasure in doing what I 
can toward carrying out the purpose of the resolutions you en- 
close. * * * I shall hold myself ready to do my part of any work 
which the committee shall decide on as furthering our object. My 



10 

address, until August 8th, will be here, care Mrs. Carre, and I will 
send you my address from time to time as it is changed until I re- 
turn to Greenwood, October 1st. 

With the friendliest greetings, I am, 

"Very truly your friend, 

LIZZIE GEORGE HENDERSON, 

Prest. Genl, U. D. C. 



Greenwood, Miss., Dec. 10, 1907. 
My Dear Mrs. Behan: 

I am just remembering that I have neglected to write and resign 
my position on the committee for getting the name of Jefferson 
Davis replaced on "Cabin John Bridge." The cause of resignation of 
course being that I am no longer Pres.-Genl. U. D. C. Wishing you a 
Merry Christmas, 

Very truly j'our friend, 

LIZZIE GEORGE HENDERSON. 



RicHMOxn, Va.. 1008 Park Avenue, September 9, 1907. 
My Dear Mrs. Behan: 

I am just home from my summer outing, Where your letter was 
forwarded me and it became misplaced, which must be my excuse for 
not replying before. I shall be most happy to serve on the committee 
for the restoration of Pres. Davis' name on Cabin John Bridge, and 
trust sincerely that our united efforts may be of some avail. 
Hoping you have been well since I saw you last, I am. 
Very sincerely, 

SALLIE P. GRAY. 
(Mrs. Alfred Gray). 



Galveston. Texas. 1421 Avenue E, January 3. 1908. 
My Dear Mrs. Behan: 

Since we met, the Old Year with its joys and sorrows has past 
to the great volume of departed years, and the "New" has dawned with 
its unwritten treasury; I trust that it will pour into your lap only 
the good things of life, thus making each of its days bright for you. 
Your letter came on the first and found that I was absent in Houston, 
where I had been called to the burial of Mrs. Abson Jones, the widow 
of the last President of the Republic of Texas. * * * But to the 
subject of your letter: and in reply I will say that it is a privilege 
to serve on the committee which will endeavor to have Mr. Davis' 
name restored to "Cabin John Bridge," and I was sorry to have missed 



11 

the discussion of that matter last spring during the meeting of the Con- 
federated Southern Memorial Association, in Richmond. Mrs. Rosen- 
berg and I were invited out to luncheon and were late in getting back 
to the meeting, when we found that it had been brought up and the 
resolution passed to take up this matter and try to bring about such 
restoration. In the interest of truthful history this should be done; 
and in any way that I can assist this devoutly-wished consummation 
I am at your service, and I do hope that this may be accomplished in 
this centennial year of President Davis' birth, and that by June 3d it 
will be restored. With much appreciation of your appointment, and 
many thanks for your good wishes and gracious words, believe me. 
Cordially your friend, 

CORNELIA BRANCH STONE. 



Mrs. William J. Beiiax, President Confederated Southern Memorial 
Association: 
My Dear Madam. — It will afford me great pleasure to serve you 
upon a committee to secure the restoration to the Washington Aque- 
duct or Cabin John Bridge of the inscription placed upon the original 
structure while the Hon. Jefferson Davis was Secretary of War. 

Since the inscription was obliterated by the order of the Secretary 
of the Interior, it would seem it could be replaced by the Secretary 
of War, and the appeal be made by the Congressman of Louisiana and 
any otffer appropriate States. Thanking you for the honor conferred, be- 
lieve me. Yours faithfully, 

NELLIE HOTCHKISS HOLMES. 
(Mrs. Geo. S. Holmes), 
President Jefferson Davis Monument Association, U. D. C. 

[When Mr. Adolph Meyer visited the Cabin John Bridge, in June, 1907, 
to examine the Tablet for the Confederated Southern Memorial Associa- 
tion, he had a photograph taken of it, that aroused speculation, as to 
his object. The newspapers announced that he represented the United 
Daughters of the Confederacy and the Confederate Ladies' Memorial 
Association. And this was repeated in the press for months thereafter. 
There is no doubt that the error was inadvertent, as there are so many 
Confederate organizations with very similar names. Furthermore the 
United Daughters of the Confederacy are more generally known than 
the Confederated Southern Memorial Association of New Orleans. In 
1907 two pollciep' were decided on, in promoting the Restoration, by Gen. 
Stephen D. Lee, Mr. Adolph Meyer, Mrs. W. J. Behan, and Mrs. J. Enders 
Robinson. First, to have the name of Mr. Davis restored by commis- 
sion of the War Department, avoiding legislation in Congress, and 
second, to discourage all newspaper mention of the work, until Mr. Meyer 
could mature his plans. Owing to this latter policy, no public protest 
was made by the Confederated Southern Memorial Association against 
the credit given the United Daughters of the Confederacy and Con- 



12 

federate Ladies Memorial Association, for the move. The Confederated 
Southern Memorial Association is composed of seventy Confederate 
Memorial Associations. 

The official correspondence in this pamphlet, setting forth an organ- 
ized, continuous effort, gives the Confederated Southern Memorial Asso- 
ciation a clear title to the honor of having persuaded the United States 
Government, to accomplish the restoration. With reference to the er- 
ror, by the press, substituting the "United Daughters of the Confed- 
eracy," and "Confederate Ladies Memorial Association," for the "Con- 
federated Southern Memorial Association," see letters of July 3, 1907, 
from Mrs. Behan to Mr. Meyer, and of July 8, 1907, from Mrs. Robinson 
to Mrs. Behan.— Editor's note.] 



THE DAILY PICAYUNE. 

New Orleans, La. 

Published by the Nicholson Publishing Company, Limited. 

Friday Morning, July 5, 1907. 



JEFFERSON DAVIS AND CABIN JOHN BRIDGE. 

On yesterday, which was the glorious "Fourth," the birth- 
day of this great nation, much was said in print about a united 
country after a terrible and tremendous sectional war and 
about the love and loyalty of the South to the Union. 

That is a.*? it should be, but, nevertheless, there remains re- 
corded against the North an act which was at the time wholly 
a wanton and unwarranted and pitiful and childish attempt 
to insult the Southern people, and today, when the story is 
told, it shows up in the light of a re-united country as some- 
thing so contemptible that the brave and honorable people of 
the North should never rest until the wrong is righted and the 
shame of it effaced from the stone tablet in which it appears. 

The story briefly is this: Under President Pierce's admin- 
istration as Chief Magistrate of this great Republic an elabo- 
rate system of works was constructed for the purpose of sup- 
plying the National Capital with water. The construction was 
done under the direction of the United States Army engineers, 
Jefferson Davis being the Secretary of War. 

In the course of the work water was brought in a magnificent 
stone acQueduct over Cabin John Creek, which flows into the Po- 
tomac on the Maryland side, not far from Washington. The 
crossing' of the creek is made on a lofty stone arch of wide 
span, and as this structure is very conspicuous as an engineer- 
ing feat, an inscription on the keystone of the arch announced 
that the work was completed by the Army engineers under the 
Administration of President Pierce, Jefferson Davis being Sec- 
retary of War. 

After the secession of the South and the outbreak of the war 
between the States, Mr. Davis having become the President of 
the Southern Confederacy, was treated to much rituperation 
by ignorant or foolishly prejudiced persons in the North, and 
under some such pressure, the Washington water works being 



13 



then under the control of the Department of the Interior, Sec- 
retary Caleb B. Smith, who presided over that branch of the 
Government for the first three years of President's Lincoln's 
first term, had Davis' name chiseled out of the inscription on 
the Cabin John Bridge, the mutilated remains standing there 
to testify to the contemptible outrage that had been perpetrated. 

There has been some confusion caused by the statement that 
the mutilation was due in obedience to an act of Congress, 
and that, therefore, another act would be required to restore 
the inscription. This idea is entirely erroneous, and, as the 
mutilation was a mere official act, it can be undone by official 
order. 

During the recent Confederate Reunion at Richmond the sub- 
ject was brought up in a meeting of the Confederate Ladies' 
Memorial Association, and at the reauest of Mrs. W. J. 
Behan, of New Orleans, Congressman Adolph Meyer, of Louis- 
iana, had photographs of the bridge and of the mutilated in- 
scription taken, and they will be used in a memorial which is 
to be sent to the President, asking that the name of Mr. Davis 
be restored to the place it occupied. 

The Southern Ladies have been very active and devoted in 
their efforts to secure this result, but there are people in the 
North who recognize that it would only be an act of justice 
to repair the useless and puerile but serious wrong that has 
been done, and in this connection the Picayune prints the fol- 
lowing: 

Bridgeport, Conn, June 15, 1907, 
To the President: — 

Ten years ago, when you were ac- 
complishing some things in the City of New York that 
other people said could never be done, it was my privi- 
lege, as General Manager of The United Press, to re- 
port progress to the country. This explains why I think 
there is one other thing you can do, which no one yet 
has ever succeeded in accomplishing. 

I believe that the name of Jefferson Davis which was 
removed from the Cabin John Bridge in the early days 
of the war between the States, by some fanatic such 
as he who fired the Ephesian dome, should be restored. 
When I have visited Miss Barton at Glen Echo, in pre- 
vious years, on Red Cross business, I have usually gone 
up to Cabin John Bridge, and I have never heard but the 
one opinion as to the mutilation of the structure in the 
interest of what somebody evidently conceived to be 
the sacred name of patriotism. But the question of pa- 
triotism was not involved. It was simply a silly pro- 
ceeding, and it has been more generally condemned by 
northern people than by our southern cousins. 

In Mr. Kipling's charming story, "An Error in the 
Fourth Dimension," when all the explanations had been 
made as to why the special train was flagged, and ap- 
parently all had been said that was necessary to ac- 
count for the unpredecented liberty that had been taken. 



14 



one of the members of the Committee chosen to in- 
vestigate why an American should thus establish a most 
dangerous precedent, let go this Parthian ai-rovv: "He 
offered to buy the road, you know, and it isn't for 
sale. And then, by George, it was the Induna that he 
flagged." Whatever estimate may be placed on Jeffer- 
son Davis by those who study his life, mistakes, 
achievements, and what not, from differing points of 
view, it comes down to this, that "It was' the Induna." 
He was the Secretary of War when Cabin John Bridge 
was built, and whether posterity accepts him as a pa- 
triot or a traitor, and in despite of any differences of 
opinion that may have existed in the minds of his con- 
temporaries, or that may leave that question unde- 
cided even unto days like these, there can be no dis- 
pute as to what relation he bore to the erection of a no- 
ble structure, which has been made doubly famous by 
the erasure of his name. 

May we not indulge the hope that you will do what 
you can to set the machinery in motion to put this 
ridiculous matter right. Very truly yours, 

WALTER P. PHILLIPS. 

The boasts made so freely, both North and South, that ours 
is a firmly united country and that sectional barriers have all 
been broken and burned away, should make it imperative that 
the offensive slur on the South so conspicuously near to the 
Capital of the United Nation should be removed. Surely the 
time has come for this. 

["Confederate Ladies' Memorial Association" should read 
"Confederated Southern Memorial Association." — Editor's note.] 

[The Picayune Bureau.] 

Post Building, 
Washington, D. C, June 29, 1907. 
A request that the National Government again resume work 
on the Mississippi River along the water front of the city of 
New Orleans was made to Secretary Taft to-day by Repre- 
sentative Meyer, of Louisiana, acting in behalf of the Mayor 
and the City Council of New Orleans. For a time this work has 
been discontinued by the National Government while permis- 
sion was granted to the Orleans Levee Board to construct cer- 
tain bank protective work at its own cost. For various rea- 
sons the Board is anxious that the War Department again take 
up the work. Mr. Meyer urged on the Secretary the impor- 
tance of the matter, and called attention to the fact that the 
Mississippi River Commission has a fund available from which 
money might be taken to pay for preliminary surveys toward 
any improvement which may be inaugurated. 

Jefferson Davis' Name. 

Representative Adolph Meyer, of Louisiana, to-day an- 
nounced his intention of making an effort to have the name 
of Jefferson Davis reinscribed on the bridge which spans Cabin 
John Creek, about six miles above Washington. Construction 



15 

of the bridge was started at the time that Mr. Davis was Sec- 
retary of War, and on its completion his name and those of a 
number of others who were identified with the work were chis- 
eled on the surface. Mr. Davis' name was erased during Presi- 
dent Lincoln's first administration by direction of Caleb Smith, 
then Secretary of the Interior. At their recent Convention in 
Richmond the Daughters of the Confederacy adopted a resolu- 
tion asking for the restoration of Mr. Davis' name, and respon- 
sive to this Mr. Meyer will take active steps to have it brought 
about. Whether he will do this through the War Department 
or seek congressional sanction he has not determined. 

["United Daughters of the Confederacy" should read "Confed- 
erated Southern Memorial Association." — Editor's note.] 



[Washington Post, June 30, 1907.] 
VANDAL'S DEED ANGERS- 
Jefferson Davis' Name Wanted on Cabin John Bridge. 
MOVEMENT BECOMES GENERAL. 
Societies r.nd Individuals, North and South, Join in Effort to Re- 
pair Injustice to Franklin Pierce's Secretary of War — Repre- 
sentative Meyer Discusses Matter with Head of Department. 

The names of Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis, both 
Presidents during the Civil War, will soon be graved upon the 
same tablet, if the Congress of the United States or some 
other authority heeds the earnest behest of the United Daughters 
of the Confederacy, which has just come from their recent ses- 
sion at Richmond. 

The daughters make the plea that the name of Jefferson Davis, 
which was erased by vandals, be restored to its place of honor. 
The name of Jefferson Davis, who was Secretary of War at the 
time the erection of the great aqueduct span was begun, form- 
erly stood above that of Abraham Lincoln, who was President at 
the time of its completion. 

For many years a blank space has occupied the place of honor, 
where at one time stood the name of the President of the Con- 
federacy. It is claimed that Mr. Davis should be given the 
honor which, as former Secretary of War, he deserves. It is 
urged, therefore, that his name be placed once more in close 
proximity to that of the leader who overthrew the Confederacy 
which Mr. Davis headed. 

Davis Proud of Work. 

As Secretary of War in charge of the corps of engineers that 
constructed the big aqueduct bridge, at the time of its con- 
struction the longest single arch span in the world, and even to 
this day surpassed by only two bridges, Mr. Davis was deeply 
interested in the work and very proud of the American engineer- 
ing genius which created it. He was inspired by a common 
patriotism in the high respect which he felt for the men under 
him, who had shown themselves superior to the engineers of 
foreign countries. 

It is claimed, therefore, that the name of the builder he re- 
carved upon this noble stone structure which rose under his 
supervision to its majestic might. It is "a thing of beauty," and 



16 



surely the man who, with feelings of patriotic pride in the 
magic might of his fellow-countrymen, watched the graceful- 
span of arched beauty rise from the lowly stream that flows be- 
neath it toward the skies richly deserves to have it bear his 
name. Let the name of Jefferson Davis be restored to its right- 
ful place, say his admirers. 

A number of Southern societies', other than the Daughters of 
the Confederacy, and many individuals, some of them Northern- 
ers, are taking an interest in the effort to have the blank space 
on the stone tablet refilled. 

Representative Meyer Helps. 

At the request of Mrs. W. J. Behan, of New Orleans, presi- 
dent of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, Representa- 
tive Meyer, of Louisiana, is starting a campaign with the 
powers that be in Washington to have this growing request of 
Southerners' and Northerners, who are fast forgetting all differ- 
ences, granted. 

Mr. Meyer talked over the matter informally with Secretary 
Taft during a visit to the War Department yesterday, but no 
action was taken. If Congressional action is found to be neces- 
sary, the question will be brought to the attention of the next 
Congress. 

[United Daughters of the Confederacy should read "Con- 
federated Southern Memorial Association." — Editor's note.] 



CONFEDERATED SOUTHERN MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION. 

New ORLEAisrs La., July 3, 1907. 
My Dear General Meyer: 

I see by the papers you have announced your intention tp act 
upon our resolution in regard to restoring the name of Jefferson 
Davis on Cabin John Bridge. This is fine, but you will excuse me for 
calling your attention to a very important fact, and that is, that the 
resolution was passed by the Confederated Southern Memorial Asso- 
ciation at the convention held in Richmond, May 30,- June 1, 1907, and 
not by the Daughters of the Confederacy, as stated in the item pub- 
lished in the Washington-Post, Baltimore Sun, Times-Democrat, and the 
Daily Picayune. Please fix this point well in your mind: the Con- 
federated Southern Memorial Association and the Daughters of the 
Confederacy are two distinct organizations. The former is composed 
of the women of the Confederacy, to whom Jefferson Davis dedicated 
his great work, "The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government"; 
to the latter belong the younger element, with a few of the older women 
who have outlived the Memorial Associations in their cities. You 
and your colleagues in Congress will remember the efforts of the 
Confederated Southern Memorial Association to obtain the favorable 
passage of the Foraker Bill, and we hope to meet with the same 




ADOLPH MEYER, 

Member of Congress from Louisiana, and accredited representative 

from the Confederated Soutliern Memorial Association 

to the United States Government. 



17 

success ill this movement, and secure from our Government, (the best 
on earth) the justice due a man who followed the dictates of his 
conscience in the performance of duty as it was given him to see 
it. In a few days I will send to your address a copy of the History 
of the Memorial Associations of the South, with certain passages 
marked for special consideration, and as a help in carrying on the 
l)roposed legislation, whether you conclude to work it through the 
Secretary of War, the Secretary of Interior, or by Congressional ac- 
tion. Please let me know in what way I may assist you, in addition 
to furnishing you with all data relating to the subject. 

On my return from Biloxi, last Saturday, I met Hon. — Bowers, of 
Mississippi, and talked to him on the subject. He seemed to think 
that it was not of sufficient importance to ask for its restoration; 
that Mr. Davis was such a great man that he would outlive this petty 
piece of spite, etc. I differed with him, and thought that it was a 
great injustice to have removed his name, and that a Government as 
great as ours could not afford to go down in history as being guijty 
of such a petty piece of spite. I told him that the matter had been 
placed in your hands and that any assistance that he would give you 
would be appreciated. * * * jf you rememebr, it was not until his 
sovereign state seceded, that Mr. Davis resigned his seat in the 
United States Senate and made his farewell address, which was an 
ardent and eloquent appeal for the preservation of the Union. I feel 
that you will succeed. 

It cannot be that the American people will deny this request, in 
justice to the memory of the man who served his country so faith- 
fully and who was recognized as the most efficient Secretary of War 
that this country has ever had. * * * 

Yours very respectfully, 

MRS. W. J. BEHAN, 
President C. S. M. A. 

P. S.— The Richmond Times-Dispatch of July 1, 1907, has an 
editorial entitled. "Jefferson Davis and the Cabin .John Bridge." In 
this article the Daughters of the Confederacy were credited with of- 
fering the resolution, and I wrote immediately to the editor, enclosing 
the article, and asked to have it corrected. The Vicksburg American 
of June 21, 1907, had an article on the same subject. So the work 
has commenced. God grant you success. 

Yours very respectfully, 

K. W. BEHAX. 



18 



[Taken from the Democrat Chronicle, Rochester, N. Y., July S, 1907.] 
RESTORING THE NAME OF JEFFERSON DAVIS. 

The Civil War closed nearly half a century ago, yet some of 
the Southern people are still engaged in keeping alive the memo- 
ries of that unhappy conflict and find their chief pleasure, ap- 
parently, in digging up incidents that might better be forgotten. 
Just now this unreconciled element is occupied in an attempt 
to restore the name of Jefferson Davis as the chief martyr of 
the Confederacy. The bitterness felt in the North toward the 
president of the seceding States has in a measure died out, but 
the North will never place him on a pedestal alongside Abraham 
Lincoln, and any attempt to elevate him to such a position will 
only provoke controversy. 

The wrong- which the admirers of Mr. Davis now seek to have 
righted has to do with the aqueduct over Cabin John Creek, a 
stream which flows into the Potomac on the Maryland side, near 
Washington. This aaueduct was erected, while President Pierce 
was in office as a part of the waterworks systena of Washing- 
ton. Jefferson Davis was Secretary of War at the time, and as 
the work was done by army engineers his name was inscribed 
on the keystone. The structure is conspicuous, and the name 
of Mr. Davis was a conspicuous object on the keystone. 

After the war broke out and the name of Mr. Davis was being 
execrated throughout the loyal sections of the country, atten- 
tion was attracted to the inscription on the keystone of the 
Cabin John aqueduct. It irritated somebody in authority, and 
by direction of Caleb B. Smith, Secretary of the Interior for 
three years under President Lincoln, who was then in charge 
of the waterworks, the name was chiseled out of the keystone 
and the keystone remains in that condition to-day. 

It is probable that few people now living in the North ever 
heard of the matter, or ever would have heard of it had it not 
been for the activity of the Confederate Ladies' Memorial As- 
sociation, which had photographs taken of the mutilated key- 
stone and circulated at the recent Confederate Reunion at Rich- 
mond, for the purpose of arousing interest in the matter and 
securing- signatures to a memorial to be sent to President Roose- 
velt asking that the name of Mr. Davis be restored. 

If the name had never been removed from the aqueduct it 
would be impossible to create any sentiment in the North to- 
day against its remaining- there. Mr. Davis is dead, and the 
cause for which he stood is dead, and nobody desires to re- 
kindle old animosities. But if restoring his name is to be re- 
garded as an act of tardy justice to the memory of the leader 
of the Confederacy and a confession that the government com- 
mitted a wrong in removing it, then the North has abundant 
cause to interpose objections. A revival of the incident at this 
late day does not serve any good purpose. 

["Confederate Ladies Memorial Association" should read "Con- 
federated Southern Memorial Association." — Editor's note.] 



19 



ANSWER TO THE ARTICLE IN THE DEMOCRAT CHRONICLE, OF ROCHESTER, N. Y. 

Ill answer to the article in the Democrat Chttjnicle, of Rochester, 
dated July 8, 1907, 1 wish to say: That in offjtting the resolution to 
have the name of Jefferson Davis restored ta' "Cabin John Bridge", 
the members of the Confederated Southern Memorial Association had 
no intention nor desire to open up old animosities; on the con- 
trary, we hope, by our act to cover up old animosities; to heal 
the breach made by the act of one man, whose outrag-eous blunder 
is now charged to the American nation. We are too great as a peo- 
ple to permit such an act of injustice to stand against a man who 
served his country as a gallant soldier and as an able official. This 
wonderful and important piece of engineering skill was engineered and 
constructed during the time that Mr. Davis served as Secretary of 
War (and no more efBcient officer has ever filled the office); for this 
reason we ask that in the name of justice and for the truth of history 
that the name be restored. We do not ask that the name be restored 
to do honor to the memory of Jefferson Davis, the leader of the 
Confederacy; but to do honor to the memory of Jefferson Davis, Sec- 
retary of War 1853 to 1857; and in making this request we have the 
endorsement and support of all right-minded, fair and honest people 
of the North. There may be a few who wish to keep up some agitation. 
To all such I will say, so far as the South is concerned the war is a 
thing of the past. The surrender at Appomattox was the final decree, 
and the men of the South at once began to rebuild their fortunes and 
to re-unite the country. The men of the South joined hands with 
the men of the North in defense of this our re-united country, and 
to-day we stand together, under the same flag, and our motto is 
E Pluribns JJnuw. As a great nation, we stand for truth and justice. 
In the history of the United States we read of the magnificent vic- 
tory obtained by the United States troops under the command of 
Lieutenant Davis, in the Black Hawk War; and later in the Mexican 
War, as commander of the First Mississippi Rifles Col. Davis gained 
signal victories at the storming of Monterey and at the battle of 
Buena Vista. Would our friend of the Democrat Chronicle, of 
Rochester, eliminate this brilliant record from our school histories, 
for the reason that Jefferson Davis was the hero? No, certainly not. 
Then why should he object to the restoration of his name to a structure 
engineered under his term of office as Secretary of War? I beg to 
include in this argument a copy of a speech made by Mr. Davis, when 
the "Liberty Bell" was sent to New Orleans for the Exposition in 1885, 
and I will close by quoting from the memorable speech of Hon. Abraham 
Lincoln: and recommend that they be put into practice by one and all. 
With malice to none, and charity to all, 

MRS. W. J. BEHAN. 
President C. 8. M. A. 



20 

Rkhmoxd, Va., 113 3d St. South, July S, 1907. 
Mrs. W. J. Behan. ^-es. C. S. M. A. : 

My Dear Mrs. Behan. — I am very glad that you read the unfortun- 
ate editorial in the Ttmes-Dispatch, of this city. I am at a loss to 
know why this newspaper should give the credit of the movement to 
restore the name of Jiefferson Davis to the Cabin John Bridge to the 
United Daughters of the Confederacy. It seems to me a wise plan 
would be, to drop the matter now. Later, when Mr. Adolph Meyer 
is prepared for the work, he will of course issue printed statements 
of the facts. But the error is so very remarkable! Please let me 
know how and when Mr. Meyer will distribute the photographs of 
the inscription. 

I appointed one of my brothers to go and see the condition of 
the tablet on C. J. B.. and he made an outline copy in pen and ink 
for me of the tablet. Yours truly, 

MRS. J. ENDERS ROBINSON. 



[Letter of Captain S. E. Morgan, with the pen-and-ink copy for the 
Virginia Committee, — Mrs. J. Enders Robinson.] 

June 28, 1907. 
Dear Virginia: 

I went up to "Cabin John Bridge" (Aqueduct) and made a 
literal transcript of the inscription on the tablet. The above is an 
exact copy, — the words on each line being exactly as written. The 
space to which the hand points marked thus is where the 

name of Jefferson Davis was inscribed and subsequently erased. It 
is entirely obliterated. You will observe there is not a punctuation 
mark of the tablet. 

A casual observer, not knowing the facts in the case, would be 
perplexed to know whether Franklin Pierce was President or Sec- 
retary of War. It would take a shrewd one to translate into plain 
English what is left of the fourth line — "Building A. D. 1861". Upon 
the whole, it may be considered a queer inscription, utterly unworthy 
to have Mr. Davis's name upon it. The most charitable conclusion is, 
that the inscription was composed by some one whose wits were not 
in working order. As to the erasure of Mr. Davis' name, I would 
say, "The greatest Government the world ever saw" (not my words) 
then and there, actuated by the meanest spirit that ever influenced 
human heart, stooped to do the littlest act recorded in the "annals 
of time." Your affectionate brother, 

S. E. MORGAN. 

[The blank space in the tablet is now so well known it is unneces- 
sary to give the "literal copy" made by Capt. Morgan. — Ed.'s note.] 



21 



[Charleston News and Courier, July 20, 1907.] 

SOME TRUTHS OF HISTORY. 

The name at Cabin John Bridge. — A Great South Carolina Paper 

Advises That No Change Be Made. 

When Jefferson Davis was Secretary of: War of the United 
States — and it is generally admitted that the United States have 
never had a more competent man in that office — an aqueduct 
was built over Cabin John Creek as' a part of the waterworks 
system of the City of Washington. The work was done by 
army engineers under his direction, and the names of those who 
were in authority at the time were inscribed on the keystone 
of the arch spanning the stream. When Caleb Smith was Sec- 
retary of the Interior under Abraham Lincoln, he ordered that 
the name of Mr. Davis, which had been chiseled into the stone, 
should be cut out, and it was done. If Caleb Smith ever did 
anything else during his term of office, we do not know it; but 
at the time, we have no doubt that he was much trumpeted 
for this mark of his loyalty to the cause of the Union. For 
more than forty years there has been a blank space in the 
keystone of Cabin John Bridge. Every visitor to the place has 
asked whose name had been cut out of the stone; nobody has 
asked who cut it out, so that it has come to pass that Caleb 
Smith has been forgotten and that Jefferson Davis lives on. 
This is exactly as we would have it and as it ought to be. 

The Confederate Ladies Memorial Association, we are told, 
had photographs distributed at the recent great rally of Con- 
federate Veterans in Richmond, showing how the mutilated 
keystone at Cabin John Bridge looks', and obtained a number 
of signatures to a memorial praying President Roosevelt to 
have the name of Mr. Davis restored. The photographs an<< 
memorial are well enough for the purpose of keeping the in- 
cident fresh in the public mind; but it is hoped that the me- 
morial will not be sent to Mr. Roosevelt, and that he will not 
regard it if it shall be sent to him. It is far better as it is. 
It will attract more attention, it will make every visitor to the 
spot think of Mr. Davis, and of his cause; the very absence 
of his name from the keystone will attest his loyalty to his 
people and to the principles upon which the American Repub- 
lic was founded. The mutilated keystone will attest at the 
same time the bitter hate, the narrow conceptions of patriotic 
duty of those who were arrayed against us in the great struggle, 
now nearly half a century ago. We would not have this act of 
vandalism covered up, this evidence of the old-time animosi- 
ties forgotten. It is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for 
instruction in righteousness. 

We are told by the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle that 
"it is probable few people now living in the Xorth ever heard 
of the matter, or ever would have heard it had it not been for 
the activity of the Confederate Ladies' Memorial Association," 
and that is precisely where we w^ould have the Association 
leave the matter. AYe want the people of the North, all the 
people of the North, to hear about it and if the "activity" of 
the As.s'ociation does nothing more than this their purpose will 



22 



have been accomplished. We are told that "if the name had 
never been removed from the aqueduct it would be impossible 
to create any sentiment in the North to-day against its remain- 
ing there." That is the very reason why we would not have it 
restored. Let it stand as it is. It is worth more to the coun- 
try as it stands. 

Our Rochester contemporary, which is disposed to play the 
Caleb Smith act, even at this late day, remarks: "Mr. Davis is 
dead, and the cause for which he stood is dead." It is true 
that Mr. Davis no longer exists in the flesh — the wonder is that 
he did not die when he was a prisoner of war at Fortress Mon- 
roe, under the care of Nelson A. Miles — but his spirit survives, 
and there is a better understanding of him now and a juster 
appreciation of his conduct than at any previous time for half 
a century. His appeal to the verdict of history for himself 
and his cause was not in vain. Time sets all things straight, 
and the mutilated stone in Cabin John Bridge is a mute but 
trustworthy witness for him and his people and their desire to 
be relieved from political associations which had become on 
many accounts' undesirable. Mr. Davis is dead; but the cause 
for which he stood — the rights of the States, the sovereignty 
of the people, the supremacy of the Constitution — will never die. 
This is not a question of rekindling "old animosities," as our 
contemporary suggests. The people of the South did not mu- 
tilate the keystone at Cabin John Bridge, they have not ques- 
tioned the honesty of Abraham Lincoln and his purposes, they 
have not cut his name out of the books taught in the Southern 
schools, they have not sought to cover up the fact that he was 
born in the South, they have heard with applause eulogies pro- 
nounced upon him by both Southern and Northern orators, they 
would not object to statues erected in his honor on Southern 
soil, and they believe that if he were living to-day he w^ould 
stand with the people of Jefferson Davis in their resistance to 
the establishment of a centralized government at Washington 
in the place of the Union of the States, which he declared it 
to be his purpose to preserve. 

When Mrs. Davis died President Roosevelt sent a bouquet 
of flowers to be placed upon her coffin. It was a queer thing 
for him to do in all the circumstances, but it has been for- 
given him by manj^ persons, on the ground that he tried in this 
blundering way to make some atonement for his brutal treat- 
ment of her husband and her prayer that he would do the 
square thing by cutting out of one of his histories a cruel'mis- 
representation of Mr. Davis. The President can not do better 
now with the petition in the Cabin John Bridge matter than to 
let it alone. 

["United Daughters of the Confederacy" should read "Con- 
federated Southern Memorial Association." — Editor's note.] 
The foregoing article, entitled "Some Truths of History," is from 
the Charleston News and Courier, of July 20, 1907. I beg leave to differ 
from the Charleston News and Courier, and as a true and patriotic 
American and a loyal Southern woman, I am most anxious to have 
this "act of vandalism covered up, and all old-time animosities for- 



23 

gotten; for it is nearly half a century since the men of the North 
and the men of the South were arrayed against each other on many 
battle-fields. When the closing scene of this great war was enacted at 
Appomattox, the war was over. We are now one people, one country, 
living under one flag. In the recent war with Spain the men of thp 
South joined hands with those of the North, and together they stood 
in defense of this their common country. That sectional prejudice is fast 
dying out was proven by the return of the captured battle flags, and 
by the generous appropriation made for the proper care and perpetual 
maintenance of the graves of the Confederate dead now buried in 
Northern cemeteries. I am fully convinced that if the attention of 
the Government officials is called to the absurd blunder made by Hon. 
Caleb B. Smith, in the heat of passion, that it will be regarded as a 
just request and that in due time the name of Jefferson Davis will be 
restored to its place on the keystone of "Cabin John Bridge," Wash- 
ington, D. C. This is an era of peace — blessed peace! — and I would 
rather help my brother cover up his fault than rejoice to have it 
stand against him and the whole American nation. Let us remember 
that without that name on the Bridge, the history of its construction 
is incomplete. It profits us nothing that the blank space points to 
another's spite of hatred; we want the name there, so that without 
question the visitor may read the name of "Jefferson Davis, Sec- 
retary of War." Let us remember and cherish the words of Abraham 
Lincoln and put them in practice: he said, "With malice to none, with 
charity to all." Let this be our motto, now and forever. 

MRS. W. J. BEHAN, 
President C. S. M. A. 



REASONS WHY THE NAME OF JEFFERSON DAVIS SHOULD BE 

REPLACED ON CABIN JOHN BRIDGE, WASHINGTON, D. C. 
[Mailed July 24, 1907, to Congressman Adolph Meyer from Louisiana.] 

The history of the construction of this wonderful piece of 
engineering demands that the names of those taking part in it should 
be inscribed thereon and preserved for future generations. 

As Secretary of War, from 1853-1857, under the administration 
of President Franklin Pierce, Jefferson Davis supervised the con- 
struction of this remarkable structure, which is to-day considered a 
masterly piece of engineering skill. 

If the name Jefferson Davis is not replaced on this tablet, what 
guarantee have we that future historians may not eliminate his name 
from the history of the Battle of Buena Vista, where his bravery and 
strategy gained such a signal victory for the American forces? 



24 

If this act of injustice, tliis defamation of the fair name of an 
honorable servant of the people, was perpetrated without congressional 
action, by an official of the administration, why cannot restitution be 
made by the present Secretary of War? 

Hon. Caleb B. Smith, Secretary of the Interior, acted without 
authority; if the present Secretary of War does not feel himself em- 
powered to act, why cannot we make an appeal direct to His Excellency, 
Theodore Roosevelt, President of the United States? 

It is not necessary to arouse the country in order to accomplish 
this act; the name can be restored quietly, without fuss or comment, 
just as it was removed without authority. 

Much has been said and written about the magnanimity of 
General U. S. Grant, in making terms with General Robert E. Lee, 
at Appomattox. Will our President and Secretary of War be less 
magnanimous in dealing with Jefferson Davis, who was no more 
guilty of treason than was General Robert E. Lee? 

There are some who oppose this movement and think that the 
erasure honors the name of Davis more than the restoration will do. 
In answer to this, I will say, as an American I desire my Government 
to be just to every man, and as the chiseling off of the name of 
Jefferson Davis was an indignity offered to him, it is the duty of the 
Government to make restitution and to replace the name where it 
properly belongs. 

This is the era of peace and good will. Sectional prejudice is fast 
dying out. Our young men, descendants of those ,who wore the gi*ey, 
rallied around the Stars and Stripes and shed their blood in defense 
of our re-united country. Last year our Government appropriated 
$200,000 for the marking and perpetual care of the graves of Confed- 
erate soldiers buried in Northern cemeteries. This was a most gen- 
erous act, and worthy of the great American people. Will these 
patriotic citizens deny this one act of justice to a man whose only 
fault was that he served his people faithfully, according to the light 
that was given him, and for which he was made the vicarious suf- 
ferer? 

This is the centennial year of the birth of Jefferson Davis. Is 
it not time to declare all animosities wiped out and to let the 
people of the whole country join hands and rejoice that peace — 
blessed peace! — reigns all over the land? 

MRS. W. J. BEHAN, President C. S. M. A. 



Editorial Rooms. THE NEWS AND COURIER. 

CiiARrERTOx. S. C. July 25, 1907. 
Mrs. W. J. Behax. New Orleans. La.: 

My Dear Madam. — I have received your letter of July 22d. A 



25 

request from you to the editor of the Democrat and Chronicle, 
Rochester, N. Y., for a copy of that paper containing its article on 
"Cabin John Bridge" would be responded to with pleasure. 

I agree fully with you that the restoration of the name of Jefferson 
Davis to Cabin John Bridge would be an act of justice, but I do not 
think it would in way affect the truth of history. The fact that 
his name has been effaced from the keystone of that structure ad- 
vertises the meanness of the people who cut it out really more than 
the restoration of the name would do. This is the point I tried to 
make in the article reprinted in The Morning Star from The News 
and Courier. Very respectfully yours, 

J. C. HEMPHILL, 
Editor The Netcs and Courier. 



CoLUMHUS, Miss.. July 25, 1907. 
Mrs. W. J. Beiiax. President: 

My Dear Mrs. Bchan. — I have your letter of July 22d, in reference 
to the restoration of the name of Jefferson DaA'is on the "Washington 
Aqueduct or Cabin John Bridge, in "Washington. I had heard some- 
where that the name had been restored; if not, certainly the action 
of the Confederated Southern Memorial Association was most appro- 
priate in every way. I think that when your Congressman, Mr. 
Meyer, with others, brings tne matter to the attention of the Secretary 
of War. the request will at once be granted. I hold myself ready to 
act with you and others in the matter, if necessary. I think, how- 
ever, the effort should first be made as you inaugurated — through 
your Congressman. All the ugly inscriptions at Andersonville have 
been recently removed through a quiet presentation of facts. 

With kind wishes. Sincerely your friend, 

STEPHEN D. LEE. 



Atlantic City. N. J., Aug G, 1907. 
Mks. W. J. Bkiiax. New Orleans, La.: 

My Dear Mrs. Belian. — Many thanks for your kind favors of the 
24th July, with enclosures, which will prove of great service. 

I feel satisfied that we will succeed in the movement to restore the 
name of Jefferson Davis to Cabin John Bridge; a confidenoo war- 
ranted by the results of several conferences I have had with Secretary 
pf War Taft, whose voice will be practically potential in the matter. 

However, w^e must indulge ourselves in patience and proceed tact- 
fully in order to meet conditions on all sides. It cannot be forced 
immediately. Sincerely yours, 

ADOLPH MEYER. 



26 

General Headquarters. 
UNITED SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. 
Memphis, Tenn. 
Nathan Bedford Forrest, John W. Appersox, 

Adjutant General and Chief of Staff. Commander-in-chief. 

August 10, 1907. 
Mrs. W. J. Behax, President C. S. M. A., New Orleans, La.: 

Dear Madam, — I have your favor of July 31, and would have 
answered sooner except for the fact that I had several calls out cf 
the city recently, and have been so busily engaged that it has been 
impossible for me to reach this matter. 

I am in thorough accord and sympathy with the resolutions of- 
fered, and beg to advise that I will do everything in my power per- 
sonally and officially. The family of Jefferson Davis were very dear 
to me on account of the intimate associations during their residence 
in Memphis. 

Please command me at any time, and I am. 

Yours very truly, J. W. APPERSON. 



[Taken from Indianapolis News, Aug-. 14, 1907.] 
THE WOMEN ARE THE WISER. 

Some time ago the "Confederate Ladies' Memorial Associa- 
tion," asked that the name of Jefferson Davis be restored to the 
Cabin John Bridge near Washing-ton where it had been chiseled 
out during the war. (It had been placed there because Davis 
was Secretary of War and had selected the plans for the 
bridge.) The Charleston News and Courier protested against 
the action of the Association on the ground that it was not 
the affair of the Southern people but of those that did the act 
and it wanted to see the mutilated stone stand. In turn we 
argued to a correspondent that this mutilation — done in the heat 
of war time — reflected on us as a people and ought to be ob- 
literated by a restoration of the name and cited the argument 
of our Charleston contemporary as revengeful and as evidence 
of its wanting to "feed fat its ancient grudge" by having the 
stone stay mutilated. To this our contemporary (which, be it 
said, we highly regard and admire), replies that it has no 
grudge and is not animated by revengeful feelings; that it sim- 
ply protested against the action of the Southern Ladies' As- 
sociation, because "it was not our affair" and tliat the correc- 
tion should be made "by those that represent the vandals that 
did it." It continues thus: 

The mutilated stone on Cabin John Bridge as our Indiana con- 
temporary says, "reflects on us as a people;" iiot upon the peo- 
ple of the South, nor upon the interests represented by any 
Confederate Association, but upon the people of the North. 
Thev mutilated the stone: let them restore it. It does not make 



27 

the least difference to Mr. Davis' people whether they do or 
not, but as long as it remains in its present condition it will 
continue to "rellect on us as a people." "We think," says our 
contemporary, "the name is better there for us than the blank 
space — far better." Doubtless that is true, but it i.<? not a mat- 
ter in which Mr. Davis's people should interfere. That is all. 

But "Mr. Davis's people" are "us people." They are part and 
parcel of this American people and their opinion is part of the 
public opinion that guides the country. They have their due 
share of responsibility for any and all actions. That is where 
the "Confederate Ladies' Memorial Association" is wiser and 
broader minded than the News and Courier. What is done or 
acquiesced in to-day we are all responsible for. "Mr. Davis's 
people" can not stand apart and say, "We have no responsibility 
for what was done by Mr. Lincoln's people." WE are a common 
country and everything of national import affects us all; and 
speaking to the case in point, the South would have its share 
of responsibility for the mutilated stone still standing if it did 
not speak, just as the North would have for letting it stand. 
There is no way in which any of us can wash our hands of any 
national matter. Those of us that are not of the "Government" 
belong to "His Majesty's opposition" and as good citizens of a 
common country have their part to play. So we must com- 
mend the Confederate Ladies' Memorial Association" for hav- 
ing done its duty and arraign the spirit that we regret to note 
prompts our esteemed Charleston contemporary as less wise 
and patriotic. 

If we grant that it is not revengeful (and we shall confess that 
we did not greatly fear the vengeful feelings of so wise an 
exemplar of good influences as the Charleston News and Courier) 
we must hold that it is unjustifiable; for there can be no aloof- 
ness or "non-intercourse" on the part of any good citizen in 
national affairs. It is not a question of what was done more 
than forty years ago by one side in the heat of civil strife. It 
is a question of what the American people do to-day and the 
magnanimity or malice of their action is compounded of the 
sentiment of the whole people. Whether nearly fifty years after 
a civil war we shall perpetuate a little thing like this done when 
men's minds were stirred with passion, or whether we shall 
obliterate it is a conclusion to be reached by hearing from the 
whole country just as the return of the battle flags was based 
as much on the desire of the Southern States made known to 
receive them as on that of the Northern States to give them. 
So we say the "Confederate Ladies' Memorial Association" has 
chosen the better part and shown the larger spirit. 

["Confederate Ladies' Memorial Association" should read 
"Confederated Southern Memorial Association." — Editor's note.] 



[Taken from Daily States August 19, 1907.] 
A FRIENDLY CONTROVERSY. 
A short time ago the Confederate Ladies' Memorial Associa- 
tion addressed to President Roosevelt a petition asking that 
the name of Jefferson Davis be restored to the Cabin John 
Bridge near Washington where it had been chiseled out by 



28 



somebody's order during the Civil War, it having been placed on 
a stone of the arch because Mr. Davis was the Secretary of 
War who approved the plan for the bridge and under whose 
supervision it was constructed. 

The Charleston News and Courier, it seems, protested against 
the action of the Memorial Association on the ground that it 
was not the affair of the Southern people but of those who were 
responsible for the mutilation of the stone. Our Charleston 
contemporary took the position that the stone should be left as 
it is, and in the event that the name of Mr. Davis is restored 
it should be done at the instance of and "by those who repre- 
sent the vandals that mutilated it." In this connection the News 
and Courier said: 

"The mutilated stone on Cabin John bridge, as our Indiana 
contemporary says, 'reflects on us as a people;' not upon the 
people of the South, nor upon the interests represented by any 
Confederate Association, but upon the people of the North. 
They mutilated the stone; let them restore it. It does not 
make the least difference to Mr. Davis' people whether they do 
or not, but as long as it remains in its present condition it will 
continue to 'reflect on us as a people.' 'We think,' says our con- 
temporary, 'the name is better there for us than the blank 
space — far better.' Doubtless that is true, but it is not a matter 
in which Mr. Davis' people should interfere. That is all." 

The Indianapolis News thinks the argument of the News and 
Courier is offered in a revengeful spirit and declares that the 
mutilation of the stone bearing the name of Jefferson Davis — 
an act done in the heat of war time — reflected "on as as a peo- 
ple and ought to be obliterated by a restoration of the name." 
In quite a kindlj^ spirit the Indianapolis paper argues that Mr. 
Davis' people are our people;" that "they are part and parcel 
of the American people and their opinion is part of the public 
opinion that guides the country." Mr. Davis' people would like 
to think s'o, but there are so many things that prove the con- 
trary that they are unable to do it. They are in the Union, but not 
in its councils, therefore their opinion does not amount to any- 
thing at all and does not guide the country in any sense. The 
Southern people, however, are not deploring such a situation, 
and we would not refer to the matter were it not for the sake 
of keeping the record straight. 

So far as the rather agreeable controversy between the News 
and Courier and Indianapolis News is concerned it is' a very 
trifling matter. The place of Jefferson Davis in history is per- 
fectly secure, and it does not interest his people in the least 
whether or not his name is restored to the mutilated stone of 
Cabin John Bridge. 

["Confederate Ladies' Memorial Association" should read 
"Confederated Southern Memorial Association." — Editor's note.] 



Ch.\rlestox, S. C, 1 Meeting Street. Aug. 15. 1907. 
My Deak Mrs. Behax: 

Yours of July 31st, with enclosures, has been received, and. I am 
very happy to serve on the committee in connection with Cabin John 



29 

Bridge matter. I stand ready to do my share of the work, and vvhat- 
ever is assigned me I shall look after to the best of my ability. The 
enclosures put the matter before me very clearly and I am sure that 
you will prove a wise and tactful leader of the undertaking. I want 
to remind you that in the original resolution there was some dis- 
cussion, and that when it was passed it was with the understanding 
that we should ask to have the name restored with the dates and 
words — removed 1861, restored 1908 — as there seemed to be a senti- 
ment that these dates would be of historic value. Personally I think 
they are, and if you remember, Mrs. Hayes took part in this discussion 
and thoroughly approved of the idea of the dates appearing in con- 
nection with the name. I just mention this so that you can know how 
to arrange matters with Mr. Meyer. I am sure you will understand 
all about it anyway. It certainly would be gratifying if Mr. Taft 
would order the restoration of the name without the trouble of tak- 
ing the matter before Congress, but at any rate we are starting on 
an enterprise which should be accomplished some day. Please call 
•on me at any time that there is something for me to do for our 
committee, and with kindest regards believe me to be. 
Yours faithfully, 

MARY B. POPPENHEIM. 



Columbus, Miss., August 21, 1907. 
My Dear Mrs. Behan: 

I have your letter of August 17th, with reference to Mr. Davis' 
name on the "Cabin John Bridge". As I have written you, I think 
your referring the matter to Mr. Meyer was wise. Leave it in his 
hands without any conditions. I tonow Mr. Taft, Secretary of War: 
he is a broad, conservative man. He will do what is right. What is 
done should be done quietly. 

With kind wishes, Yours truly, 

STEPHEN D. LEE. 



New Orleans. La., August 23, 1907. 
Ho.x. W. H. Taft. Secretary of War, Washington, D. C: 

Dear Sir, — From a recent letter received from Mr. Meyer, M. C. 
from Louisiana, I learn with pleasure that he has had several con- 
ferences with you on the subject of restoring the name of .Jefferson 
Davis to Cabin .John Bridge, Washington, D. C, and that he feels con- 
fident of success. It is not necessary to go over the history of the 
famous aqueduct— how it was built during Mr. Davis' term as Sec- 
retary of War; how in the heat of passion and sectional prejudice Hon. 
Caleb B. Smith, Secretary of Interior, by his own word, and without 
•congressional action, ordered the name of Jefferson Davis cut off the 



30 

keystone, where it had been inscribed with that of President Pierce. 
After nearly half a century we can view the action with more charity 
and we can truly say, "With malice to none and charity to all." 

The movement to restore the name of Jefferson Davis to the 
"Cabin John Bridge" has met with the approval not only of the 
Southern people, but our Northern brethren are desirous of having it 
done; believing, as the Indianapolis News says, "The mutilated stone 
reflects upon us as a people, and the name is far better there than the 
blank space, far better." 

I have just received a letter from General Stephen D. Lee, Com- 
mander-in-chief of the United Confederate Veterans, in which he 
writes in referring to this subject, "I know the Secretary of War, 
Hon. W. H. Taft, he is a broad and conservative man and will do 
what is right." * * * 

I read with pleasure your speech delivered at Lexington, Ky., yes- 
terday, and I beg to say that, as Kentucky was the birthplace of 
Jefferson Davis, you would make yourself very popular in that grand 
old State by this single act of restoring the name of its favored son 
to the place where it belongs on Cabin John Bridge, and I appeal to 
you as one all-powerful, to see that this act of tardy justice is granted. 
Hon. Adolph Meyer is in heart sympathy with the movement, and 
I feel that he enjoys the esteem and confidence of the administration. 
If you could see your way clear to grant this request on or beforei 
the third day of June, 1908, it would be most highly appreciated by 
the members of the Confederated Southern Memorial Association. 
Mr. Secretary, we believe it is in your power, and we look to you for 
a favorable reply. Yours very respectfully, 

MRS. W. J. BEHAN, 

President. 

WAR DEPARTMENT. 

Washington, August 29, 1907. 
My Dear Madam: 

In the absence of the Secretary of War, I beg to acknowledge the 
receipt of your favor of the 23d of August, concerning the restoration 
of the name of Jefferson Davis to the Cabin John Bridge, and to sajj- 
in reply that I have placed your letter in the hands of General 
Mackenzie, Chief of Engineers of the Army, who will present it to 
the Secretary upon his return from his present trip to the Phillipine 
Islands. I beg to thank you on behalf of the Secretary for the kind 
words of your letter. Very respectfully, 

C. C. WAGNER, 
Acting Private Secretary. 
To Mrs. W. J. Behan, Pres't Confederated Southern Memorial Ass'n. 



81 



[Indianapolis' News, Aug. 23, 1907.] 
CROSSING THE BRIDGE. 

The Charleston News and Courier, whose kindly words and 
good opinion of this paper we appreciate and reciprocate, is 
still recalcitrant on the ciuestion of Jefferson Davis's name and 
the Cabin John Bridge. It reminds us of the man that said 
the horse was .seventeen feet high. When told that he evident- 
ly meant seventeen hands he admitted that he did, but that as 
he had said seventeen feet he meant to stick to it. The News 
and Courier "insists" that the people of the South "are not in 
any sense responsible for the "vandalism" that cut the name 
from the bridge. By the same reasoning, it declares we might 
as well hold the peoi^le of the South responsible for the burning 
of Atlanta and Columbia and the desolation of the country by 
Sherman's men on the march to the sea. Furthermore it "does 
not care a copper" whether Davis's name is restored, but pro- 
tests against any people of the South asking for its restoration. 
Finally, it tells us that the war "was not a civil war, but a 
purely defensive war on the part of the South and a war of 
criminal aggression on the part of the North. It is all over 
now," it continues, but it wants to "keep the record straight!" 

All right! The horse is seventeen feet high — not hands; we 
shall agree on that. But that is not the subject of our story. 
The South was not responsible for the "vandalism" that cut the 
name off; nor was it responsible for the acts' of Sherman's men. 
But we insist that it is responsible in its due share for the na- 
tional opinion of the year 1907 concerning anything of national 
import, sentimental or material. It shares the responsibility 
for the acquisition of the Philippines and our future policy re- 
garding them; and it was responsible for the return of the 
battle flags', in part, by creating the sentiment that so culminated, 
as it was also duly responsible for the act of Congress which 
was unanimously passed correcting a mistake of Mrs. Jefferson 
Davis by which she had lost her copyright to her admirable 
memoirs of her husband and restoring this to her. These all 
were acts of the Republican party and Presidents that politi- 
cally represented the North only, but officially they represent- 
ed the whole country and the quality of their acts was com- 
pact of the opinions of the whole country mingling like the 
'atmosphere to produce a certain result. 

The Charleston paper may hold whatever views it pleases of 
the late war and of the Cabin John Bridge incident. But when 
it comes to national action, not opinion, to-day, on any sub- 
ject — as on this incident, for example — we insist that morally 
it will have to care a copper whether it wants to or not, for it is 
part and parcel of this nation; and so the action of the Con- 
federate Ladies' Memorial Association in letting their opinion 
be known as to the incident was right and proper and the part 
of good citizenship. 

["Confederate Ladies' Memorial Association" should read 
"Confederated Soi!th.ern Memorial Association." — Editor's note.] 



32 

New Oki.eaxs, La., 1207 Jackson Avenue, 28, 1907. 
To THE Editor L\uia\.\poi.ts News, Indianapolis, Ind.: 

Dear Sir, — Tlie copies of your paper were duly received, and I 
wish to compliment you on the article, "Crossing the Bridge", which 
is written in the true American spirit. Your ideas of good American 
citizenship agree with that of many prominent Southern people, who 
do not feel themselves debarred from the responsibilities of the nation 
by reason of their residence on the other side of Mason and Dixon 
line. In the name of the Association of which I am president I thank 
you for your honest, candid and patriotic views concerning the reso- 
lution offered at its recent convention, "to adopt the necessary means 
to have the name of Jefferson Davis restored to Cabin John Bridge. 
Washington, D. C." It is nearly half a century since the closing 
scene at Appomattox ended the War between the States. The country 
is re-united, and we are one common people, and as such it is the 
duty of all patriotic citizens to assist in obliterating every evidence 
of the ill-feeling, malice and sectional prejudice engendered by the war. 
The mutilated keystone on Cabin John Bridge stands out in bold re- 
lief as an act of indignity offered to a man who served his country in 
time of war and peace with exceptional ability and fidelity; and while 
it is recorded as the act of one man who was blinded with prejudice, 
it reflects upon the honor of the whole American nation, and should 
be corrected as soon as possible. As the wife of a Southern Re- 
publican, I am proud of my Government. Its recent action, in return- 
ing the captured battle flags, and the generous appropriation for th° 
care of graves of Confederate soldiers buried in Northern cemeteries, 
will always be remembered with pride and gratitude. It was a most 
courteous act on the part of General Fred. Grant, to furnish a military 
escort when the remains of the late Mrs. Jefferson Davis were remov.3d 
to Richmond, Va., for final interment, and the floral tribute sent by 
President Roosevelt, on the same sad occasion, was highly appreciated 
by the Southern people. It had been the hope of Mrs. Davis that she 
would be spared to see the name so dear to her restored to Cabin 
John Bridge, but fate decreed otherwise, and we now have it as a 
duty to render this tardy act of justice while we have with us the 
only surviving daughter of this distinguished man — I refer to Mr^. 
J. Addison Hayes, a resident of Colorado; and who claims Washington 
as her birthplace, having been born there during her father's term as 
Secretary of War. You will find enclosed a copy of a letter from 
General Stephen D. Lee, Commander-in-Chief of the United Confederate 
organization, who is in heart sympathy with this movement. As you 
will remark, General Lee is very hopeful that Secretary of War can 
and will do the right thing, and we would prefer to have it done 



33 

quietly, so as to prevent adverse and radical expressions from any 
party. 

In conclusion, permit me to thank you for your sensible article, and 
to express a hope to have your co-operation if necessary. 
Yours very respectfully, 

MRS. W. J. BEHAN. 
President C. S. M. A. 



New Orleans, La., August 28, 1907. 
My Dear General Meyer: 

I hope you will be patient with me. I am just like the average 
woman, more or less impatient to accomplish my purpose. For 
the last week or two the papers are full of the reported resignation 
of Hon. W. H. Taft. This makes me uneasy, as we look to him as 
the man with the power and the goodwill to do what we want. 
I know you are watchful and ever on the giU vive. but in this case 
we must "watch and pray". Enclosed find a copy of a letter that I wrote 
to Mr. Taft. I hope you will not consider it an unwise proceeding. 
Several of the Northern papers have taken up the matter in reply 
to an article in the Charleston News and Courier — you will find 
these clippings herewith, together with my notes (none of which have 
been given to the press), as I am waiting instructions from you. 

Mr. Phillips, of Bridgeport, a perfect stranger to me, wrote to the 
President and gave his letter to the Baltimore Sun. The New Orleans 
Picayune copied it, with a very fine article, which I sent to Mr. 
Phillips. He has had copies printed for distribution. I have asked 
Mr. Phillips to confer with you when he gOBs to Washington next 
month. If you think well of it, I can get our papers and the "Con- 
federate Veteran" to recommend the movement to the favorable con- 
sideration of the Secretary of War. Let me know when and how I 
can assist you * * * Remember, my dear General Meyer, that we 
are most desirous to have the name restored before the third day 
of June, 1908 — the sooner the better. * * * 

Yours very respectfully, 

MRS. W. .7. BEHAN. 
President C. S. M. A. 



(Telegram) 



Tate SpRixfiS. Texx.. October 5, 1907. 
Mrs. WiLi.TA:\r .1. Betiax. 1207 .Jackson Avenue, New Orleans, La.: 

Letter here; do not think advisable taking further action now; will 
explain situation to you on my return. 

A. MEYER. 



34 

Home, Richmond, Va., October 2, 1907. 
My Dear Mrs. Behan: 

Yours received. No! Do not think of giving out anything to news- 
papers until the restoration of Mr. Davis' name is assured. It would 
be foolhardy. You have Mr. Adolph Meyer at work'; you have ap- 
pointed your Cabin John Bridge Committee, who know the resolutions 
of the June Convention. My watchword is, "Silence, and restoration by 
Commission, of War Department." Yours hurriedly, 

MRS. J. ENDERS ROBINSON. 



1908. 



in iUpmortam. 



On March 8, 1908, the Cabin John Bridge Committee suf- 
fered the loss of an invaluable member by death, 

HONORABLE ADOLPH MEYER. 



On March 8, 1908, the Cabin John Bridge Committee suffered the 
loss of a most valuable member in the death of Hon. Adolph Meyer. 

The following extract from the Congressional Record of the Sixtieth 
Congress, First Session, Washington, Sunday, May 10, 1908, shows the 
esteem in which Hon. Mejner was held by his fellow citizens: 

EULOGIES ON THE LATE REPRESENTATIVE MEYER. 

Mr. Ransdell, of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I offer the reso- 
lution which I send to the Clerk's desk. 
The Clerk read as follows: 

Resolved, That the business of the House be now sus- 
pended that opportunity may be given for tributes to 
the memory of the Hon. Adolph Meyer, late a Mem- 
ber of this House from the State of Louisiana. 

Resolved, That, as a particular mark of respect to the 
memory of the deceased and in recognition of his dis- 
tinguished public career, the House, at the conclusion 
of these exercises, shall stand adjourned. 

Resolved, That the Clerk communicate these resolu- 
tions to the Senate. 

Resolved, That the Clerk send a copy of these resolu- 
tions to the family of the deceased. 
The resolutions were agreed to. 



35 



Mr. Davey, of Louisiana took the chair as speaker pro tem- 
pore. 

Mr. Ransdell, of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay a tri- 
bute of respect to the memory of my deceased colleague, Hon. 
Adolph Meyer, late a Representative in Congress from the First 
District of Louisiana, who died at New Orleans on the 8th of 
March, 1908, and is honored and mourned by his State and na- 
tion. 

General Meyer was born at Natchez, Miss., October 19, 1842, 
and spent his childhood in that State. He matriculated in the 
University of Virginia, and before graduation left that famous 
training school of the South to enter the Confederate army in 
1862. During the trying times of the greatest Civil War the 
world has ever seen General Meyer played an active, honor- 
able part, serving on the staff of Brig. Gen. John S. Williams', 
of Kentucky, and holding the rank of adjutant-general when 
the war closed. In 1879 he was elected colonel of the First 
Regiment, Louisiana National Guard, and in 1881 was appoint- 
ed by Governor Wiltz, brigadier-general of the First Louisiana 
Brigade, embracing all the uniformed militia in the State. In 
connection with the organization of the State Militia his ser- 
vices were very efficient. 

At the outbreak of the Cuban War General Meyer was urged, 
on account of his military experience and ability, for a po- 
sition as either brigadier or division commander of Southern 
volunteers. The following was written by Gen. John S. Wil- 
liams, of Kentucky, upon whose staff General Meyer s'erved: 

To the President, 

Your Excellency: I beg leave to recommend to your 
favorable consideration Mr. Adolph Meyer, of Louisiana, 
for position of division or brigade commander of South- 
ern volunteers. 

Mr. Meyer served on my staff during almost the entire 
Civil War. He was pre-eminent for soldiery qualities, 
the loftiest courage, fidelity, and endurance. In fact, he 
seemed a natural-born soldier and commanded the con- 
fidence and admiration of the entire command. 

I know of no young officer who manifested more mili- 
tar>^ aptitude; his resourcefulness in emergencies and 
quickness to avail himself of every possible advantage 
and devotion to duty were unsurpassed. 

Mr. Meyer's experience in actual war has been sup- 
lilcmonted by command in the Louisiana Militia and 
National Guard. 

I know the appointment would be a good one and 
highly acceptable to the Southern people. 

With sentiments of the highest regard, I am, 
Most respectfully yours, 

JOHN S. WILLIAMS. 

Brigadier-General, afterwards Commanding Kentucky 
Division. May 2, 1908. 

Mr. Lamb. Mr. Speaker, the frequent eulogies in this House, 
Sunday after Sunday, remind us of the solemn and serious 



36 



fact that in the midst of life we are in death. A visitation of 
this grim monster has prevented my making as full and com- 
plete a eulogy on our departed friend and comrade as I had hoped 
to make, for no longer ago than yesterday I was called to wit- 
ness the funeral of a sr)lendid Virginia woman who met a 
sudden and tragic death by a runaway accident. I oniy left 
the city of Richmond this morning after a very early breakfast, 
in order that I might reach this House in time to comply with 
the request of my colleagues from the State of Louisiana to 
unite in this tribute to the life and character of our deceased 
friend. 

I have, perhaps, seen more of deatla in war than any other 
man in this presence, and as much in peace. Only this morn- 
ing I came through the historic city of Fredericksburg, where 
in December, 1863, I counted on a surface no larger than ihis 
room the bodies of 285 of the dead men of Mears's brigade, 
in that conflict of which I was an eyewitness. All I have here 
to say has been written on the train between Fredericksburg 
and this city. As my mind ran over the battlefield of old 
Virginia I thought of the apostrophe to death I have heard so 
often quoted on this floor: 

Come to the bridal chamber, Death! 

Come to the mother's, when she feels 
For the first time, her first-born's breath! 

Come when the blessed seals 
That close the pestilence are broke, 
And crowded cities wail its stroke! 
Come in consumption's ghastly form. 
The earthauake shock, the ocean storm; 
Come when the heart beats high and warm. 

With banquet song, and dance and wine! 
And thou art terrible! — the tear, 
The groan, the knell, the pall, the bier, 
And all we know, or dream, or fear 

Of agony, are thine. 

We look upon death as the greatest of mysteries; but to my 
mind, accustomed as I have been in war and peace to this 
dread monster, I regard what we call life as even more myste- 
rious than death itself. 

Mr. Chairman, the life of Adolph Meyer was eventful and dis- 
tinguished. Louisiana may well mourn and this- House well 
honor this soldier, patriot, business man, and statesman. 

In him was combined those qualities of sterling character, 
rare fidelity, courage, and faithfulness in the discharge of every 
duty which justly entitles him to live in the hearts and mem- 
ories of his countrymen. 

Modest, unassuming, and genial, liberally educated, of broad 
business experience, he gave to his public duties that sound 
judgment and untiring effort which won for him the affec- 
tion, respect, and confidence of his colleagues. 

Adolph Meyer was a native of Natchez, Miss., born in Octo- 
ber, 1S42. Educated at the University of Virginia, he left that 
institution while a student to enlist in the Confederate army, 
serving with distinction under Brig. Gen. John S. Williams, first 



37 



as captain, then by promotions until at the close of the war he 
held the position of adjutant-general. 

After the close of the war he returned to Louisiana, became 
the head of a firm largely interested in the production of cot- 
ton and sugar; later he became a cotton factor in New Orleans, 
and was prominent and successful in commercial and financial 
pursuits. 

He was elected and served as colonel of the First Regiment 
Louisiana National Guard, and was appointed in 1881 brigadier- 
general to command all of the uniformed corps of the State of 
Louisiana. 



New Orleans, La., April C, 1908. 
Mrs. William J. Behan, 1207 Jackson Avenue, City: 

Dear Madam, — By request of Mrs. Adolph Meyer, I send you the 
papers with reference to Cabin John Bridge which she found among 
General Meyer's effects. With my regards, I remain, 

Yours viery truly, 

C. M. EISEMAN. 



RESTORE OLD HICKORY'S WORDS. 
"Union Must Be Preserved," To Be Replaced on Bust. 

Memphis, Tenn., April 9. — After an absence of forty-three 
years Andrew Jackson's historic words, "The Union Must be 
Preserved," will be restored to the monument of "Old Hickory" 
in Court Square. The bust of Jacks'on will be put in good shape 
immediately, a. contract for the work having been let by the 
Park Commission. "During the Civil War a local Confederate 
patriot took a chisel and removed 'The Union Must Be Pre- 
served,' " said Colonel Galloway, a member of the Commission. 
"Now that the Civil War is long past and we are all so proud 
of the Union it seems to me that it would be only proper to 
put this language back." 



Appointment of Hon. Murphy J. Foster U. S. Senate — to succeed 
Hon. Adolph Meyer — M. C. of La., deceased March 8, 1908. as repre- 
sentative from C. S. M. A. to U. S. Government. 

New Orleaxs. La., April 11, 1908. 
Hon. Murphy J. Foster, United States Senate, Washington, D. C: 

Dear Sir, — As on previous occasions I have received evidence of 
your friendly services, and knowing you to be an influential member of 
the United States Senate, and that you are on friendly relations with 
the Administration, I write to ask that you will exert your best 
efforts in support of a question in which the Southern people are in- 
terested. 

In June, 1907, the Confederated Southiern Memorial Association, 
of which I have the honor to be president, met in Convention in Rich- 



38 

mond, Va. At the Convention a resolution was adopted asking that 
means be taken to have th name of Jefferson Davis re-inscribed on 
"Cabin John Bridge," or as it is known on the Records as the "Union 
Arch". Upon my return to New Orleans, a few weeks after the Con- 
vention, I met our mutual friend, General Meyer, and enlisted his 
interest and services. He expressed himself as in hearty sympathy 
with the movement, and said that he considered it an outrage that 
the name should have been erased; that it was a piece of petty spite, 
that he considered unworthy of an American citizen, and that such 
a blur should be removed from the American nation. When General 
Meyer returned to Washington, he placed the matter immediately 
before the Secretary of War, Hon. Wm. H. Taft, and from what 
General Meyer told me, he v;as very confident of success, and believed 
that it could be done by the Secretary of War without bringing it 
before Congress. 

General Stephen D. Lee, Commander-in-Chief of the United Con- 
federate Veterans, is in heart sympathy with this movement, and, 
as you will see from his letter, he believes that the Hon. Mr. Taft 
can and will restore the name of Jefferson Davis to the tablet, where 
in justice and for the truth of history it belongs. On June 3. 1908, 
will occur the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of Jefferson 
Davis. We will celebrate the day in the honor of one of the greatest 
Americans the country has ever produced. We will honor him as 
soldier, statesman and patriot. He was said to be the most efficient 
Secretary of War that ever served in that office, and it was during 
his term of office that this wonderful structure, "Cabin John Bridge," 
was constructed; and to have erased his name from the tablet was a 
despicable act of prejudice that should be quickly repaired. 

In connection with this movement I beg to call your attention 
to an enclosed clipping, which proves that to-day all sectional feeling 
has died, and the people North and South are ready to say with 
Jackson, "The Union must be preserved." In the name of my Asso- 
ciation I hope you will be pleased to take this matter up where General 
Meyer left off, and that you will with your usual success bring it to 
a glorious conclusion. Yours very respectfully, 

MRS. W. J. BEHAN, 
President C. 8. M. A. 



[New Orlean.s Daily Picayune, April 22, 190S.] 
PUT DAVIS'S NAME BACK. 
Resolution to Be Offered by Mr. Carlin Looking to This. 
[From Our Regular Corrospondent.] 
Washington, D. C, April 21. — Representative Carlin, of Vir- 
ginia, said to-day it was his purpose to introduce a resolution 
calling on the Secretary of War for all information relative to 



39 



the erasure of the name of Jefferson Davis from the aqueduct 
bridge near this city. 

The bridge was completed during- the term of Mr. Davis as 
Secretary of War and his name appeared on the caps-tone of 
the abutment. During the War between the States, the name 
was chiseled out, it is said, by the order of the then Secretary 
of War. 

Mr. Carlin's bill is preliminary to the introduction of a bill 
for the restoration of Mr. Davis's name. 



Richmond, Va., 113 3d Street South, April 22, 1908. 
Representative Carlin, of Virginia, Washington, D. C. : 

Dear Sir, — In the issue of the Times-Dispatch, this city, of this 
date, a telegraphic message from Washington states that you will ask 
Congress for all information concerning the erasure of the name of 
Jefferson Davis from Cabin John Bridge. 

Will you be so kind as to let me know if the newspaper article Is 
correct? The movement to restore the name of Mr. Davis was started 
by the Confederated Southern Memorial Association, of New Orleans, 
La. I was appointed a member of the committee by the president, to 
represent the State of Virginia. 

Yours truly. 

MRS. J. ENDERS ROBINSON. 



C. C. Carlin. 8th District of Va. 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES U. S. 

April 28. 1908. 
Mrs. J. E. Robixsox, 113 3d Street, South, Richmond, Va. : 

Dear Madam. — I have your favor of the 22d inst., and for your 
information will say that I have introduced a resolution inquiring 
as to the reason for the elimination of the name of Jefferson Davis 
from the arch at Cabin John Bridge, and what steps, if any, have been 
taken to restore same. It is my purpose to press this resolution at 
the fall session of Congress. 

Very truly yours, 

C. C. CARLIN. 



New Orleans, La.. 1207 .Jackson .Avenue, April 2.5, 1908. 
Hon. Mr. Carlin. House Representatives, Washington, D. C. : 

Drar Sir, — In the New Orleans Daily Picayune of date April 24th 
I read that you propose to introduce a resolution in the House, call- 
ing for an investigation into the removal of the name of Jefferson 
Davis from "Cabin John Bridge", and that you will subsequently 



40 

offer a second resolution, directing that the name be restored to its 
former place on the Bridge. 

As the Confederated Southern Memorial Association, of which 
I am the President, inaugurated this movement by offering such a 
resolution as is understood in your second resolution, I have 
thought it proper to give you the details of the origin of this 
patriotic and historic measure. 

The Confederated Southern Memorial Association met in con- 
vention in Richmond last June, and at this convention the subject 
of the removal of the name of Jefferson Davis from "Cabin John 
Bridge" was discussed with great feeling as to the injustice of tiie 
act, the petty spite displayed, and the many considerations that 
should impel the great American people to obliterate all evidences 
of sectional prejudice by restoring the name to its original place 
on the Bridge. Mrs. J. Addison Hayes, the only surviving daughter 
of Jefferson Davis, was present, and said that her father had al- 
ways considered it a great act of injustice, and that her mother had 
hoped to live to see justice done the name of her illustrious hus- 
band, who was the most efficient Secretary of War that this govern- 
ment ever had. 

After this spirited discussion, a resolution, which is here en- 
closed, was offered by Mrs. J. Enders Robinson, of Richmond, Va., 
^ delegate from the Confederate Memorial Literary Society (Con- 
federate Museum), and the motion carried. The president was 
empowered to appoint a committee from the several Confederate 
organizations who would give their endorsement, if necessary 
in having the name restored. The committee list is also enclosed. 1 
wrote to General Lee on fhe subject, and send you a copy of his 
letter showing his approval of the action of the Confederated 
Southern Memorial Association and recommending that it be con- 
ducted as quietly as possible to avoid ugly and partisan criticism. 

After my return to New Orleans I met General Adolph Meyer, 
who was a personal friend and the Congressman of my District. I 
spoke to him of this movement, and he immediately expressed a 
willingness to take the matter in nand. He advised taking the 
matter directly to Secretary Taft, arguing that as the name had 
been ordered taken off without Congressional action it might be re- 
stored in the same way by the Secretary of War. 

General Meyer had several very satisfactory interviews with 
the Secretary, and felt confident of success. Unfortunately death 
called him before the object was accomplished, but I feel that Mr. 
Taft is favorably disposed, if the matter can be presented to him in 
the proper light. 

On April 12th I wrote to Hon. Murphy J. Foster, giving him 



41 

all the data that had been returned to me by the widow of General 
Meyer. If you will permit the suggestion, I would be pleased to 
have you confer with him, feeling that you and Senator Foster hold 
the same views on the subject. I believe, however, with General 
Lee, that it should be done quietly; that we must be patient, and 
that at the proper time the Secretary of War will order the restora- 
tion in his own right of office and without bringing it before Con- 
gress. The enclosed data Is submitted that you may learn, in case 
you have not been informed already that the movement originated 
vith the Confederated Southern Memorial Association, and that a 
■Virginia lady, Mrs. J. Enders Robinson, Secretary of the Con- 
federate Museum, was the mover of the resolution. The news- 
papers in different parts of the country commented on the move- 
ment, and I am happy to report that the Northern press was favor- 
able. The Rochester News (N. Y.), The Indianapolis Journal, and a 
gentleman from Bridgeport, Conn., published very fine articles, and 
the New Orleans Daily Picayune and the Times-Democrat, as well 
as the Times-Dispatch of Richmond, Va., were in heart sympathy 
with the movement. 

I hope to hear from you at your earliest convenience, and hope 
that with our united efforts we will accomplish our object. I have 
had an interview with Hon. R. C. Davey, with whom 1 am per- 
sonally acquainted, and have asked him to see you. Senator Foster 
has promised all his assistance. 

Yours very respectfully, MRS. W. J. BEHAN, 

President. 



Washixgtox, D. C. May 16. 1908. 
Mrs. W. J. Beiian, New Orleans. La.: 

Mj/ Dear Mrs. Behan, — I have been sick nearly the whole time 
since my return, and when I went to the House of Representatives 
Mr. Carlin would be away. I found him on Saturday and had quite 
a talk with ,him relative to Cabin John Bridge. He stated to me 
that his father was interested in the matter before his death; how- 
ever, he does not intend to press it this session, but will endeavor to 
have it considered next session. 

With very kind regards, I am. Yours truly. 

R. C. DAVEY. 



3(n fflpmortam. 

On May 28, 1908, death claimed another member of the 
Cabin John Bridge Committee, in the passing of 
r.EXERATj STEPHEN I). LEE, 

Commander-in-Chief, United Confederate Veterans. 



42 

UNITED STATES SENATE. 

Washington, D. C, May 25, 1908. 
Mrs. W. J. Bicii.vx, 1207 Jackson Ave., New Orleans, La.: 

Dear Madam. — I have not written before in regard to the matter 
of restoring the name of President Davis to the Cabin John Bridge, 
because I have been awaiting an opportunity of taking the matter up 
with Secretary Taft. 

It must ultimately be referred to the War Department, and 
consequently will be left largely to his control. For this reason I 
have thought that the best policy to pursue would be to consult with, 
the Secretary and ascertain his views. 

His presence in Panama at the time your letter was received, 
and his absence from Washington during the greater part of the time 
since returning to this country, has prevented the taking the matter 
up with him in person, but I have arranged to bring it to his atten- 
tion. 

This, is my opinion, is the best course for the people interested 
in the matter to follow, for I think they can rely on the wisdom and 
justice of the Secretary. Yours truly, 

(Signed.) MURPHY J. FOSTER. 



General Clement A. Evans, Commander-in-Chief, was appointed 
to fill the vacancy on the Committee, caused by the death of General 
Stephen D. Lee. 

HEADQUARTERS UNITED CONFEDERATE VETERANS. 
Clement A. Evans, Wm. E. Mickle, 

General Commanding. Adj't-Gen'l, and Chief of Staff. 

Office cf Commanding General, 

July 27, 07. 
Mes. W. J. Behan, Pres., New Orleans: 

Dear Mrs. Behan. — I have read with great interest your letter and 
inclosures. I have made myself somewhat acquainted with the effort 
to have the words "Jefferson Davis" restored to the stone on the 
"Cabin John Bridge". Additional to the help you obtained from 
the Louisiana members of Congress, I observed that a member from 
Virginia, introduced a resolution of inquiry, and I wrote to him 
about it and received his reply. I agree with all parties that this 
effort should be made without the slightest involvement with poli- 
tics. The restoration of the name should be made as a simply duty 
to historical fact. The present blank on the tablet does not dis- 
honor Mr. Davis, but it does discredit all of us. North and Soufh, 
who approve the mutilation or object to the restoration. 



43 

I feel perfectly sure that as soon as the present political can- 
vass for the Presidency is over, that either the present Secretary of 
War or the next Secretary of War will on his best judgment have 
"Jefferson Davis" replaced on the stone. It is so absolutely absurd 
(as I see the matter) to make a political issue on this question that 
I cannot imagine any patriot in the Union will be offended when it 
is done. 

Your noble spirit in all matters like this will commend you and 
your work to all our best countrymen, and will be remembered with 
gratitude by our Confederate soldiers. 

With great esteem, 

CLEMENT A. EVANS. 



New Orleans, La.. Nov. 30. 1908. 
Hox. LrivE E. WuiciiT. Secretary of War, Washington, D. C: 

Dear Sir, — I take the liberty of calling your attention to the en- 
closed copy of a resolution passed at the Confederated Southern 
i\lemorial convention held in the city of Richmond, Va., June i, 1907. 

By the action of the convention I was made chairman of the 
committee by reason of my office as president of the Association, 
and I have associated with me as members of the committee, Gen- 
eral Clement A. Evans, of Atlanta, Ga.. Commander-in-Chief United 
Confederate Veterans; Mrs. C. B. Stone, of Galveston, Texas, Presi- 
dent-General of the United Daughters of the Confederacy; and Mr. 
Jno. W. Apperson, of Memphis, Tenn., Commander-in-Chief United 
Sons Confederate Veterans. This committee, composed of prominent 
and influential persons, is in hearty accord with the movement. Im- 
mediately upon my return to New Orleans I saw Hon. Adolph Meyer, 
M. C. from Louisiana, and requested him to interest himself in the 
matter. He expressed himself freely on the subject as one deserving 
the attention of our people, and cheerfully said, "I will do all in my 
power to have this request granted." 

Returning to Washington, Mr. Meyer had several satisfactory 
interviews with Hon. W. H. Taft, at that time Secretary of 
War, and, from all that T could glean from his letters, Mr. Meyer 
was confident of success. Copies of these letters will be sent to you 
for your information. Acting on the advice of Hon. W. H. Taft and 
Mr. Meyer, all active measures were delayed until after the election. 
In the meantime, Mr. Meyer died; and Hon. Murphy J. Foster, U. S. 
Senator, and Hon. R. C. Davey, M. C. from the same State, promised 
to do all in their power for the success of the movement. During the 
latter part of the last session I learned that Hon. C. C. Carlin, M. C. 
from Virginia, had given notice that he intended introducing a bill 



44 

in Congress asking for the restoration of tlie name of Jefferson Davis 
on "Cabin John Bridge". I wrote Mr. Carlin, and had a member of 
the Committee from Virginia to write him also, that the Confed- 
erated Southern Memorial Association had already started a move- 
ment in that direction; that we had placed it in the hands of parties 
authorized to act for us, and we respectfully asked that he would 
not introduce such a bill. 

We hope to accomplish our purpose without bringing it before 
the public, as it would probably meet with some objection, though 
I firmly believe the majority of the American people are in favor of 
proving our greatness by performing this tardy act of justice for the 
sake of truthful history. 

From all that I could learn it was the opinion of Mr. Taft that 
the Secretary of War had the power and authority to order the name 
restored, or that the President acting on the endorsement of the 
Secretary of War, would so order. 

Mr. Secretary, the election is over, and' the American people 
have shown their wisdom by placing at the head of this glorious 
ration a man who will put truth, justice and honor above all else. 
Should you wish to place this matter before our honorable Presi- 
dent-elect, you will find him in possession of all the facts as stated 
here, and favorably disposed to assist you in your efforts to bring 
about the desired result. As you are aware, this is the centennial 
of the birth of Jefferson Davis, and I believe it to be an opportune 
time for pressing our claim, in order that the truth of history may 
be preserved. If this matter is properly placed before our broad- 
minded and generous President, Hon. Theodore Roosevelt, I believe 
he will be pleased to wind up his already glorious administration by 
ordering the restoration of the name of Jefferson Davis on the tablet 
from which it was shamefully cut off without authority by Mr. Caleb 
Smith, Secretary of the Interior, in 1861. It is a great honor and 
privilege to have in the office of Secretary of War one who not only 
knew Jefferson Davis personally, but one whom we honor and re- 
spect as a Confederate Veteran. With you there is no question of 
the right and justice of this request, and we appeal to you with 
confidence in your willingness to act and ability to succeed. 

This magnificent structure is only one of the evidences of the 
great skill and efficiency of Mr. Davis while he was Secretary of 
War and we should give honor to whom honor is due. It is a matter 
of record that the name of Mr. Davis was ordered cut off the tablet 
by Hon. Caleb B. Smith, who, in his passion and prejudice forgot 
that to the name of Jefferson Davis this country owes justice and 
recognition for services rendered on the field of battle, in the coun- 



45 

cil chamber, and as one of the ablest men in the cabinet of President 
Franklin Pierce. This act of petty spite stands to-day as a reproacE 
to the American people, and should be obliterated by the restoration 
of the name where it rightfully belongs. When this is done — and let 
us hope that it will be done during the Davis centennial year — then, 
indeed, may we boast of the great American people and the re-united 
country. 

And now, in conclusion, Mr. Secretary, I will indulge in a short 
personal allusion as an introduction to you, as well as to our Presi- 
dent-elect. I am the wife of General W. J. Behan, a Confederate 
veteran who served for four years in the Army of Northern Vir- 
ginia, and who has since his surrender at Appomattox been a loyal 
citizen of the United States. Under separate cover I will send you 
certain data that may be useful to you in working up this matter, 
and I am ready at all times to aid you in your efforts. If necessary, 
I will go on to Washington to urge prompt and favorable action. 

Thanking you in advance for your co-operation, and assuring 
you of my highest esteem, I am, Yours very respectfully, 

MRS. W. J. BEHAN, 
President. 



Additional data mailed to Hon. Luke A. Wright, December 1, 
1908: 

1st. Copy of resolution passed by C. S. M. A., at Convention, 
Richmond, Va., relative to Cabin .John Bridge. 

2d. Names of Committee. 

3d. Copies of letters from the late Hon. Adolph Meyer; Gen'l. 
Stephen D. Lee; Hon. W. H. Taft, Secretary of War; Hon. Murphy 
.T. Foster, U. S. Senator from Louisiana. 

4th. Copy of C. S. M. A. minutes, of Richmond, Va., Convention, 
June 1-3. 

5th. Copies of letters from Gen'l Clement A. Evans, Com- 
mander-in-Chief; from Jno. W. Apperson, Commander-in-Chief U. 
S. C. v.; from Mrs. Cornelia Brandh Stone, Pres't-Gen'l. U. D. C. 



Nkw Orlkaxs. La., 1207 Jackson Avenue, December 2. 1908. 
Mrs. Corxet.ta Bra\ch Stone. President General, United Daughters of 
the Confederacy, Galveston, Texas: 
My Dear Mrs. Stone. — I trust you have arri\^d home safe and are 
enjoying a well earned rest after the fatigues of the Convention. 
Permit me to take this occasion to compliment you upon your ex- 
ecutive ability and upon your admirable tact and patience in con- 
trolling such a large Convention. 



4g 

I r©gret that you did not give me the opportunity to thank you, 
in the name of the Confederated Southern Memorial Association, for 
your active interest in the "Cabin John Bridge" matter. 

As an interested member of the "Cabin John Bridge" Commit- 
tee of the C. S. M. A., it is due you that you be advised as to all 
that has been done by the chairman, and to request that you co- 
operate with the committee in the plan adopted for accomplishing 
this historical and patriotic work. 

As you are aware, the "Cabin John Bridge" resolution was 
passed at the C. S. M. A. Convention held in Richmond, Va.. June 
1, 1907, and all Confederate Associations were invited to unite with 
the C. S. M. A. in its effort to accomplish this object. The Chair 
was authorized to appoint a committee, which was done, and I en- 
close a list, although I think this was done when I appointed you. 
Letters were received from General Stephen D. Lee, from Mrs. 
Lizzie George Henderson, Mr. Jno. W. Apperson, Commander-in- 
Chief of the U. S. C. v., and from other members of the committee, 
heartily endorsing the movement. At the expiration of Mrs. Hender- 
son's term of ofBce she resigned from the committee, and you were 
named by me as her successor. I wish to thank you again for your 
beautiful letter of acceptance. 

The Commander-in-Chief of the United Confederate Veterans 
organization who succeeded the lamented General Lee has written me 
a strong patriotic letter, promising to co-operate with the committee. 
The first step taken ^y me as Chairman was to place the resolu- 
tion in the hands of a VBry influential member of Congress from 
Louisiana, the Hon. Adolph Mej^er. This was done during the month 
of June, 1907, and Mr. Meyer wrote me that he had had several very 
satisfactory conferences with Hon. W. H. Taft, at that time Secre- 
tary of War, and that he felt confident of success. It was deemed 
advisable, however, by Mr. Meyer and General Lee, not to press 
the matter, but to bide our time in patience until after the presi- 
dential campaign was finished. A few months later Mr. Meyer died, 
and I immediately requested Hon. Murphy J. Foster, U. S. Senator 
from this State, to take up the matter where Mr. Meyer had left off. 
A very satisfactory letter was received from Mr. Foster, saying that 
he had made arrangements to have the subject presented to Hon. 
W. H. Taft, but he. too, advised patience. I wrote a personal letter 
to Hon. W. H. Taft and received a reply from his acting private 
secretary, advising me that Mr. Taft was absent, but that my letter 
would be referred to him on his return from the Philippines. 

During the past week I wrote to Hon. Luke E. Wright, Secre- 
tary of War, and furnished him with all the necessary data which 
had been in the possession of the late Mr. Meyer, and duplicates of 



47 

all this material are in the hands of Mr. Foster, the representative 
of the Confederated Southern Memorial Association, in Washington, 
D. C. 

Last summer, just before Congress adjourned, my attention was 
called to a newspaper item which stated that Hon. C. C. Carlin, of 
^ irginia, had given notice that he would introduce a Fill in Congress 
asking why the name of Jefferson Davis had been removed from the 
stone on "Cabin John Bridge", and that his bill would ask that it 
be restored. I wrote immediately to Mr. Carlin, and to Hon. R. C. 
Davey, M. C. from Louisiana, asking him to see Mr. Carlin, in per- 
son, and to explain to him that the C. S. M. A. had at its Convention 
in June, 1907, passed a resolution to the same effect, and that our 
Representative had already taken the matter up with the Hon W. 
H. Taft; and we begged him (Mr. Carlin) to defer his actiqn, as we 
had been advised against bringing the subject before Congress. The 
advice from all sources, from Confederate as well as oflBcials at 
AVashington, is, to be patient and leave the matter in the hands of 
the Secretary of War. 

Mrs. J. Enders Robinson, of Richmond, Va., the delegate from 
the Confederate Memorial Literary Society of Richmond, Va., who 
offered the "Cabin John Bridge" resolution, also wrote to Mr. Carlin, 
explaining all that had been done, and asked for his co-operation 
with the committee. If we hope to succeed, there must be concert of 
action; the committee must be united in its plan of procedure, as 
it is in its desire to accomplish this patriotic work. 

In every step that I have taken I have advised with the Com- 
mander-in-Chief of the United Confederate Veterans, General Clem- 
ent A. Evans. As Chairman, I am willing and pleased to receive sug- 
gestions from the members of the committee, and from you in par- 
ticular, in whose judgment I have great confi'dence. If you will par- 
don me, I would suggest that in printing your report in the Atlantic 
Minutes you would say that by reason of your office of President- 
General of the U. D. C, you are a member of the C. S. M. A. "Cabin 
John Bridge" Committee, and that, as a member deeply interested in 
the success of the movement, you called on President Roosevelt, etc. 
This will show to all our co-workers that we are working together 
towards one great purpose. 

With best wishes for all your endeavors, believe me, 
Yours sincerely and fraternally, 

MRS. W. J. BEHAN. 
President Confederated Southern Memorial Association, Chairman 
Cabin John Bridge Committee. 



48 

WAR DEPARTMENT. 

Wasiiingtox, December 12, 1908. 
Dear Madam: 

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 1st, inclosing 
data in connection with the subject of the restoration of the name 
of Jefferson Davis on the tablet or stone on Cabin John Bridge. 
Very respectfully, 

LUKE E. WRIGHT. 

Secretary of War. 
Mrs. W. J. Beiian. President Confederated Southern Memorial Asso- 
ciation, 1207 Jackson Avenue, New Orleans, La. 



New Orleans. La-. 1207 Jackson Avenue. Dec. 16, 1908. 
Gen'l Clement A. Evans, Commander-in-chief United Confederate 
Veteran Organization, Atlanta, Ga. : 
My Dear General Evans, — ^Some time ago I wrote you in reference 
to the restoration of the name of Jefferson Davis to "Cabin John 
Bridge", Washington, D. C. You expressed hearty sympathy with 
the movement and stated that you had written to a member from 
Virginia, who had introduced a bill in Congress on the same sub- 
ject. As I wrote you at that time, it was and is still our derive 
to have this accomplished quietly and without bringing it before 
Congress. This was the advice received from the late Gen'l S. D. 
Lee, and Hon. Adolph Meyer, a member of Congress from Louisiana, 
Mr. Meyer was the agent of the Confederated Southern Meinori;ii 
Association in Washington, and had had several very satisfacfory 
conferences with the then Secretary of War, Hon. W. H. Taft. Un- 
fortunately, Mr. Meyer died before the object was attained, and I 
have asked Hon. Murphy J. Foster, Senator from Louisiana, to 
take up the matter where Mr. Meyer left off. We were advised to 
keep quiet until after the presidential election. This we have done, 
but now that Congress has convened, we have resumed our task. 
The Virginia member of our committee (Mrs. J. Enders Robinson, 
of Richmond, Va.) v/rote to Hon. C. C. Carlin, the Virginia member 
who had introduced a bill in Congress requesting him not to bring his 
bill before the House, but to co-operate with us in our plan of action. 
Enclosed please find Mr. Carlin's reply. 

Now, my dear General, if we hope to succeed this year we must 
be up and doing. I write to request that you write to General Luke 
k. Wright, Secretary of War, urging him as a Confederate soldier 
to exercise his authority as Secretary of War to have the name re- 
stored to its place on the keystone of "Cabin John Bridge" during 



49 



^■^'<^3$fe 



^-ifS^^ 






^^.^ 



'a*??» SWMCT SS- 



m^i saaiw SIS ^i 



_1 ^MITARY or WAR SIM CAMERON ' 



i^»^jt*.^^4ff^juvwvrtr. 



r.0i ^ it i -"S. 



'xm^jsi^\^'!i>Xii, 



r>*i>»««W- 



^jm' x ' f^ ' 



^^y^tflf*-* 



TABLET ON CABIN JOHN BRIDGE. 

The empty space represents the work of vandals, who sought to destroy- 
■record of Jeff arson Davis' connection with the great onterprlse- 



51 

this the Davis centennial year; in the first place, for the accuracy 
of history; in the second place, as a proof that we are a re-united 
people; and lastly (but not least), as an act of justice to a num 
who gave the best years of his life in the service of the United 
States as soldier and statesman, and who, according to governmentjil 
reports, was the most efficient Secretary of War who had ever held 
the office. 

Enclosed find certain data that may be useful to you as informa- 
tion, and let me urge you not to delay writing. If any other plan 
should suggest itself to you, please act upon it; perhaps you wou'd 
like to write to the President, who, for the sake of his Georgia 
mother, might comply with your request. 

With best wishes for your continued good health, anc' wishing 
you the choicest blessings of this joyous and holy season, believe me, 
Yours very fraternally, MRS. W. J. BEtiAN, 

President C. S. M. A. 



New Orleans, La.. December 21, 1908. 
To His Excellency, Theodore Roose\'elt, President United States of 
America, Washington, D. C. : 
Hon. and Dear Sir, — I take the liberty of addressing you on a 
matter which, I believe, has been or will be brought to your attention 
by the Secretary of War, Hon. Luke E. Wright. 

The subject is, the restoration of the name Jefferson Davis to 
the keystone of the Washington Aqueduct or Union Arch. Under 
separate cover I send certain data in connection with the mtjvement, 
and below I will give a summary of facts: 

Confederated Southern Memorial Association, in convention as- 
sembled: 

June 1907. Resolution to have the name Jefferson Davis restored 
to "Cabin John Bridge", Washington, D. C. Adopted. The 
president of the C. S. M. A. was authorized to appoint a com- 
mittee to bring the matter to the attention of the United States 
authorities. 
July 1907. The president of the C. S. M. A. placed the matter in 
the hands of Hon. Adolph Meyer, M. C. from Louisiana, who 
reported to her that he had had several satisfactory conferences 
with Hon. W. H. Taft, and felt confident of success. 
July 1907. General Stephen D. Lee, Commander-in-Chief United Con- 
federate Veteran Organization, endorsed the movement and 
gave it his active support. 
March 1908. At the death of Hon. Adolph Meyer the president re- 
ferred the matter to Hon. Murphy J. Foster, U. S. Senator from 
Louisiana. 



52 

May 1908. Upon the death of General Stephen D. Lee, his suocessor. 
General Clement A. Evans, of Atlanta, Ga., took up the matter 
with enthusiasm. He wrote to Mrs. Behan, "I cannot imagine 
any patriot in the Union will be offended when it is done." 
Other prominent men from the North and the South have been 
consulted, and several newspapers from both sections have pub- 
lished strong articles in favor of restoring the name where it right- 
fully belongs. 

The Confederated Southern Memorial Association represents 
the "Women of the Sixties" from all parts of the South, all united 
in the request that all evidences of sectional passion and prejudice 
should be obliterated during this centennial of the birth of Jefferson 
Davis, who served his country as Secretary of War. 

Trusting to your good-will and noble desire to heal all differ- 
ences with a view of re-uniting the people of this great country, we 
appeal to you to make this the crowning act of your truly great ad- 
ministration. 

With expressions of the highest personal esteem, I am. 

Very respectfully, MRS. W. J. BEtlAN, 

President. 



New Orleans. La., December 21, 1908. 
Hon, Luke E. Wright, Secretary of War, Washington, D. C. : 

Dear Sir, — ^Your letter of the 12th inst. was duly received and 
appreciated. This morning General B. F. Eshleman, of New Orleans, 
called to see me to say that he had had a very pleasant and sat- 
isfactory interview with you regarding the "Cabin John Bridge" 
matter, and that as far as you know there was no objection to the 
movement. He stated also that it was your intention to speak to 
the President on the subject within the next few days. I write to 
thank you for the interest you have taken, and to implore you as a 
Confederate soldier and a citizen interested in all that tends to the 
best interests of these United States, not to permit the matter to 
be side-tracked nor overlooked, as is often the case. 

The Confederated Southern Memorial Association represents the 
"Women of the Sixties" from all parts of the South, and we feel that 
this is an opportune time to request the President of the United 
States to wipe out this evidence of the passion and prejudice of one 
man engendered by the war of 1861-65, and which stands to-day as a re- 
proach to the whole American people. We do not wish to stir up 
strife, but prefer that it be done quietly during this the centennial of 
the birth of Jefferson Davis. 

Again we beg of you to keep the matter in mind. 

Yours very respectfully, MRS. W. J. BEHAN, 

President. 



53 

WAR DEPARTMENT. 

Washington, December 28, 1908. 
Mauam : 

I beg to acknowledge receipt by reference from the White House 
of your letter of 21st instant addressed to the President, with addi- 
tional enclosures, urging restoration of the name of Jefferson Davis 
on the tablet or stone on Cabin John Bridge. 

Yours very respectfully, ROBERT SHOUALTER, 

Acting Secretary of War- 
Mks. W. J. Bkiian. President Confederated Southern Memorial Asso- 
ciation, 1207 Jackson Avenue, New Orleans, La. 



Atlanta, Ga., December 26, 1908. 
Mrs. W. J. Beiian, New Orleans, La.: 

My Dear Mrs. Behan, — I am confident that you will secure the re- 
placing of the name of Jefferson Davis to Cabin John Bridge, for you 
are moving wisely and gaining friends. 

It seems to me that the present Secretary of War will be in- 
duced to quietly direct the restoration; and that if Mr. Carlin, act- 
ing on your behalf, will take up the matter with the assistance of a 
few others about the middle of January, he will succeed. I will write 
to some members of Congress from Georgia, and also to the Secre- 
tary of War, but would like to know about the time Mr. Carlin will 
renew his endeavors. 

We Confederates can never be as grateful to you as you deserve, 
but you have won our united hearts forever. 

Your friend. 

CLEMENT A. EVANS. 

P. S. — I will return the valuable letters, etc, you sent me. 



190^9 

WAR DEPARTMENT. 

Washington. January 4, 1909. 
My Dear Mrs. Behan: 

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your favor of the 21st ultimo, in 
regard to the desire of the Confederated Southern Memorial Associa- 
tion to have the name of Jefferson Davis restored to Cabin John 
Bridge. I shall be pleased to take .this matter up with the President 
and see what can be done. 

Sincerely yours, LUKE E. WRIGHT. 

Mrs. W. J. Bkiian. President Confederated Southern Memorial Assoi 
ciation. New Orleans, La. 



54 

New Obleans, La., Jan. 9, 1909. 
Hon. Luke E. Wright. Secretary of War, Washington, D. C: 

Dear Sir, — I was so happy to receive your letter of the 4th, in 
which you said you would take up the matter of the restoration of 
the name, Jefferson Davis, with the President. Pardon my per- 
sistence, but the Memorial women of the South are deeply interested 
in this movement, and would Wke to know in what way they may 
further its accomplishment. 

The Memorial Association is more far-reaching than its name 
indicates. It is formed of organizations from each of the Southern 
States. One of our Vice-Presidents is the daughter of Senator Bank- 
head, of Alabama; another officer is the wife of Senator Clay, of 
Georgia; and still another is Mrs. C. B. Bryan, of Memphis, Tenn., the 
daughter of Raphael Semmes, of Confederate naval fame. 

Permit me to refer you to the correspondence with Hon. W. H. 
Taft and the late Hon. Adolph Meyer, M. C. of Louisiana. Mr. Meyer 
had several conferences with Hon. W. H. Taft, then Secretary of War, 
in which Mr. Taft said it was in the province of the Secretary of War 
to order the name restored. Mr. Meyer was very hopeful of success, 
and no doubt would have succeeded, as Mr. Taft was favorably 
disposed, had death not claimed him. President Roosevelt has a 
chance here to write his name in imperishable lines. In view of 
the Lincoln Centennial this year, let us repair this act of injustice 
to the name of Jefferson Davis. 

Yours very respectfully, 

MRS. W. J. BEHAN, 
President. 



New Orleans, La.. Jan. 9, 1909. 
Hon. Murphy J. Foster. U. S. Senate, Washington, D. C: 

Dear Sir, — I have received a letter from Hon. Secretary of War, 
General Wright, dated January 4th, stating that he would be pleased 
to take up with the President the matter of restoring the name of 
Jefferson Davis to the tablet on "Cabin John Bridge." The time 
has come when men from the North and the South can afford to deal 
justly with each other, and should do all in their power to restore 
the friendly relations that should exist among such a great people. 
I beg of you to call on the Hon. Secretary in behalf of this movement. 
With this letter you will find a summary of what has been done 
by the Confederated Southern Memorial Association. The asso- 
ciation is more far-reaching than its name indicates, as it is an asso- 
ciation of organizations, not of individuals. One of the vice-presidents 
is the daughter of Senator Bankhead, of Alabama; another officer is 
the wife of Senator Clay, of Georgia; and another officer is the daughter 



55 

of Raphael Semmes, of Confeclerate naval fame, and the sister- 
in-law of General Luke E. Wright, our Secretary of War. 

Hoping to have your active co-operation, and assuring you of 
the endorsement of every Southern man in Congress, whose aid 
is at your call, I am, 

Yours very respectfully, MRS. W. .J. BEHAN, 

President. 



SUMMARY OF WHAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED UP TO DE- 
CEMBER 21, 1908. 

Conviention assembled in Richmond, Va., May 30, June 1st, 1907. 

1907, June 1st — Resolution to have the name Jefferson Davis restored 
to "Cabin John Bridge", Washington, D. C. The President au- 
thorized to appoint a committee to bring the matter to the at- 
tention of the United States authorities. This was done. 

1907, July — The President placed the matter in the hands of Hon. 
Adolph Meyer, M. C. from Louisiana, who reported by letter that he 
Lad had several conferences with Hon. W. H. Taft, Secretary of 
War, and was confident of success. 

1907, July — General Stephen D. Lee, Commander-in-Chief U. C. V., en- 
dorsed the movement and gave it his active support. 

190S, March— At the death of Hon. Adolph Meyer, the President re- 
ferred the matter to Hon. Murphy J. Foster, U. S. Senator from 
Louisiana. 

1908, May — Upon the death of General Lee, his successor. General 
Clement A. Evans, took up the matter with enthusiasm, and wrote 
Mrs. Behan as follows: "I cannot imagine any patriot in the 
Union will be offended when it is done." 

1908, December— Hon. C. C. Carlin advised Mrs. J. Enders Robinson, 

that in reply to her request he would withhold his bill a year, 

or so. 

Letters have been written by members of the committee, and the 
President to the Hon. Secretary of War, Gen'l Luke E. Wright, to His 
Excellency President Roosevelt, and to prominent citizens in the 
North and South. Several newspapers. North and South, have pub- 
lished strong articles in favor of restoring the name and thus oblit- 
erating the outrageous blunder of one man (Hon. Caleb B. Smith), 
who, blinded by passion and preiudice, ordered the name cut off and to- 
day his unauthorized act stands as a reproach against this great 
American people. 

The Confederated Southern Memorial Association does not wish 
to stir up strife, nor to take it before Congress; we prefer to have the 
wrong righted in a quiet, dignified manner, without any "hurrah." 



55 

Our object is, to preserve to future generations the true and accurate 
history of the great and wonderful and imposing structure known 
as the Union Arch, which was constructed while Jefferson Davis was 
Secretary of War. 



T.,r T^ T.T n Atlanta, January 11, 1909. 

My Dear Mrs. Beiian: 

•I will write to-day a strong letter in the true vein to Secretary 
Wright on the matter of the restoration of the name of Jefferson 
Davis, which we so earnestly desire to have done. 

I feel sure that all the best men in Washington among the re- 
publicans would be glad if it was quietly restored without any ob- 
jections being made. 

It is the manner of doing it which bothers the Secretary of War. 
I will try to meet that point in my letter to him. 

Thanks to you for asking me to do anything for our cause which 
is on your heart. As always your friend, 

CLEMENT A. EVANS. 



UNITED STATES SENATE. 

Washington, D. C, January 15, 1909. 
Mrs. W. J. Behan, 1207 Jackson Avenue, New Orleans, La.: 

Dear Madam.'. — I am in receipt of your recent favor, enclosing a 
summary of what has already been done by the Confederated Memorial 
Association, to have the name of Jefferson Davis restored to the Cabin 
John Bridge. 

I note very carefully what you have to say, and, as stated in a 
former communication, I will be glad to co-operate; but still think, 
as I stated then, that it is a matter that may very well be left with 
Mr. Taft. 

He will be inaugurated in about six weeks, and having looked into 
the question when Secretary of War, I think it would be well to 
postpone the matter until he has an opportunity to act upon it. I 
will, however, be glad to advise with Gen. Wright as to the best 
course to be pursued in the premises. 

Yours truly, MURPHY J. FOSTER. 



OFFICIAL ORDER TO RESTORE NAME OF JEFFERSON DAVIS 
TO THE AQUEDUCT CABIN JOHN BRIDGE, AT WASHINGTON. 
THE WHITE HOUSE. 
To THE Secretary of War: Washington. D. C. February 16. 1909. 

Will you please direct that the name of Jefferson Davis as Sec- 
retary of War be restored to the Cabin John Bridge? 

THEODORE ROOSEVELT. 




THEODORE ROOSEVELT, 



President of the United States who ordered the restoration 
FBbruary 16, 1909. 



0^ 

WAR DEPARTMENT. 
Office of the Secretary. 
Memorandum for the Chief of Engineers: 

Restoration of tlie name of Jefferson Davis to the Cabin John 
Bridge. 

By direction of the President, you will take the necessary steps 
to restore the name of Jefferson Davis as Secretary of War to the 
Cabin John Bridge. The matter will be given publicity from this office. 

LUKE E. WRIGHT. 
Februarv 20, 1909. Secretary of War. 



The Picayune Bureau. 
Pest Building. Washington, D. C, Feb. 22, 1909. 
CABIN JOHN BRIDGE. 

Largely on account of the influence of the late General 
Adolph Meyer, following the adoption of strong resolutions by 
the Daughters of the Conftederacy at Richmond in 1907, the 
Secretary of War to-day ordered that the name of Jefferson 
Davis, who was Secretary of War of the United States, is to 
be restored to the tablet in the great masonry arch at Cabin 
John Bridge. It was erased during the Civil War, after he had 
renounced his allegiance to the United States and became 
President of the Confederacy. Announcement of this decision 
was made at the War Department to-day. 

For fifteen years the question of restoring the name to the 
historic span has been agitated by Southern societies and men 
from the South prominent in the affairs of the nation. The 
efforts, however, failed of success until 1907, when General 
Meyer, co-operating with the Daughters of the Confederacy, 
induced Secretary Taft to have the matter of the erasure thor- 
oughly investigated. Major Spencer Cosby searched the records 
and reported in part: 

"The argument of Mr. Phillips for the restoration of the name 
of Jefferson Davis loses force from the fact that he is mis- 
taken in his principal point. Jefferson Davis was not Secre- 
tary of War when Cabin John Bridge was built, and I can find 
nothing in our records to show that he ever saw or approved the 
plans for that structure. He was Secretary of War when work 
on other parts of the aqueduct was started, in 1853, but the 
plans which he then recommended for approval showed a bridge 
of five arches over Cabin John Valley. The actual construc- 
tion work on the bridge was begun in 1857, shortly after Mr. 
Davis ceased to be Secretary of War." 

The incident marking the erasure of Mr. Davis' name created 
quite a stir at the time, and has been a source of agitation ever 
since. The letters of the name were chipped from the stone 
tablet, in which they were cut, by direction of Caleb Smith, Sec- 
retary of the Interior, during the Civil War. The order was 
issued on a motion made by Galusha Grow, of Pennsylvania, 
Speaker of the House of Representatives in 1862. 

["Daughters of the Confederacy" should read "Confederated 
Southern Memorial As.=?ociation." — Editor's Note.] 



58 

CONGRATULATORY LETTERS RECEIVED BY MRS. W. J. BEHAN, 

PRESIDENT CONFEDERATED SOUTHERN MEMORIAL 

ASSOCIATION. 

Atlanta, February 24, 1909. 
My Dear Mrs. Behan: 

I congratulate you with all my soul on your success in having 
the name Jefferson Davis restored to its appropriate historical place. 
I wish at an early date to advise with you in regard to the con- 
tinuance in a truB patriotic way of our efforts to maintain for the 
memory of Jefferson Davis its rightful place in all history. Very 
much more is depending on our fidelity to him than even our own 
people generally think. 

Thanking you, and even "blessing" you, for the noble measures you 
are taking to establish whatever is right in Confederate memories, 
I am, Your friend indeed, 

CLEMENT A. EVANS. 



New Orleans, La., February 24, 1909. 
My Deak Madam: 

You say, "Congratulations are in order." They are ivdeed, and no 
one recognizes so quickly and so cheerfully as I do the services ren- 
dered by you and your co-workers. That the women have accomplished 
this act of justice so long delayed, and those who bore the heat and 
burden of the day when the men of the South v^^re in the front, com- 
mend them and their work to every Confederate soldier. I know you 
need no assurances from me as to the pleasure given me by the work 
accomplished by you, and I beg to add to it the assurances of my 
personal high regard. That you may live long to worthily earn other 
Southern laurels and still more endear yourself to Southern soldiers 
who care for their history, is the wish of one who is pleased to 
sign himself. Yours fraternally, 

LEWIS GUION. 
Mrs. W. J. Behan. New Orleans. 



[From Times-Democrat of New Orleans, February 25, 1909.] 

CABIN JOHN BRIDGE. 
By ordering the restoration of the much-discussed inscrip- 
tion upon Cabin John Bridge, President Roosevelt has per- 
formed a public service which deserves the thanks and ap- 
preciation of his fellow-citizens. North as well as South. The 
mutilation of the tablet by order of a vindictive Congress in 
1S62 was perhaps the pettiest act of which the National Leg- 
islature, in all its history, has been guilty. The bridge was 
in its day a notable accomplis'hment. It was planned and con- 
structed by g-overnment engineers who worked under the di- 




GENERAL LUKE E. WRIGHT, 
Secretary of War, who executed the order of President Roosevelt. 



59 

rection of the Secretary of War. Begun during the adminis- 
tration of President Pierce, it was natural and proper that the 
tablet should record, along with the date, the name of the Ex- 
ecutive and of the Secretary of War, Mr. Davi.s, who took a 
keen interest in the engineering plans and construction. The 
erasure of the latter's name, during the war, was ordered when 
sectional hate and fury was most intense and designed as- a 
blow at the Confederate President. Years afterward it had 
something of the effect desired, for we are told that Mr. Davis, 
in his retirement, felt the injustice keenly. 

But in the truer sense the act reflected upon those responsi- 
ble for it rather than upon Mr. Davis. By the mere removal of 
his name from the tablet, his would-be detractors could not 
rob him of the credit that accrued from his participation in the 
planning and construction of the bridge, any more than they 
could have destroyed the fact that he was one of the nation's 
ablest War Secretaries, by mere mutilation of the official re- 
cords at Washington. The bridge continued to stand as a 
monument to the administration which urged its construction 
and to the abilities of the men who had to do with it. The 
muti'lated inscription has only served through the years to em- 
phasize the facts which a passion-swayed Congress sought to 
obliterate. The unsightly mutilation itself has borne witness 
during that time to the infinite littleness of the men who stooped 
to a display so childish of vindictiveness and sectional hate. 

The amends now ordered by Mr. Roosevelt should have been 
made years ago, in justice to Mr. Davis and in charity to the 
Congress moved by unreasoning fury to an act unworthy. It 
is an episode best forgotten. The people of the South have al- 
ready testified their appreciation of Mr. Roosevelt's action, and 
we believe it will be, for the reasons above suggested, as hearti- 
ly approved by their countrymen of the North. 



[Explanatory. — Full text of the replies from Virginia officials re- 
ceived in January and February 1909, will be found further on, under 
date June 1st, 1909, as part of Mrs. Robinson's Report entitled "Vir- 
ginia's Part in the Resolution of" &c. — Editor's Note.] 



COLUMBIA PHONOGRAPH CO. 
Printing Department. 

Bridgeport, Conn., March 1, 1909. 
Dear Mr.s. Beiian: 

Many thanks for your letter. From the enclosed cutting from 
the Washington Star you will see how the whole effort in which 
you and your associates were engaged, in 1907, was headed oft by 
Major Cosby, who twisted things to suit his purpose, and the tenor of 
whose report was clearly hostile to the restoration of Mr. Davis' 
name. This report seems to have been sufficient to satisfy Secretary 
Taft that there was no use of doing anything. But Secretary Wright 
seems to have had an inspiration to take matters up with the Presi- 
dent, as a result of which in about fifty years from the date of the 



60 

outrage, tardy justice will be done to one of the greatest of Amer- 
icans, whatever the differing judgment of North and South may be 
as to his construction of toe Constitution as to States' Rights. 
Very truly yours, 

W. P. PHILLIPS. 



[The Evening Star, Washington, D. C] 

RESTORES DAVIS' NAME. 

President Orders It Put Back On Cabin John Bridge — Cut Out 
During War — Erased From Tablet By Official Order, It 
Is Said. No Record Ever Found. To-day's Ac- 
tion Result of Years of Effort On Part 
Of Southerners. Maj. Cosby's 
Adverse Report. 

"The Secretary of War, by direction of the President, has 
instructed the chief of engineers, United States Army, to take 
the necessary steps to restore the name of Jefferson Davis as 
Secretary of War to Cabin John Bridge." 

The above brief but significant memorandum was given to 
the press at the office of Secretary Wright in the War De- 
partment to-day. It marks the triumph of the persistent and 
long continued efforts of the Southern people to remedy what 
they considered a blot on the memory of the President of the 
Confederate States. At intervals since the Civil War the ques- 
tion of restoring the name to its former place on the bridge has 
been presented to Congress and the President, but without 
avail until the present time. 

It came up during the Cleveland administration, as well as 
before and since that time. It was left, however, for the pres- 
ent War Secretary — himself a Confederate soldier — to induce 
President Roosevelt to order the restoration of the name so 
dear to the Southern part of a reunited country. 

Inscription as It Stands. 

Cabin John Bridge is one of the longest and most imposing 
single-span masonry arches in the w^orld. It lies on the con- 
duit road, about six and one-half miles northwest of the Aque- 
duct Bridge, and was built to carry over a small valley the 
aqueduct conveying the water supply of Washington. Two in- 
scribed stone tablets are built onto the masonry in corre- 
sponding positions on the south sides of the two abutments. 
The tablet on the. east abutment bears the following inscrip- 
tion: 

Union arch. 

Chief Engineer, Capt. Montgomery C. Meigs, 

U. S. Corps of Engineers. 

Esto perpetua. 



61 

The tablet on the west abutment contains the following in- 
scription: 

Washington Aqueduct. 

Begun A. D. 1853. President of the U. S.. 

Franklin Pierce. Secretary of War, 

_ . Building A. D. 1861. 

President of the U. S., Abraham Lincoln, 
Secretary of War, Simon Cameron. 
The blank space in this latter inscription originally con- 
tained the name of "Jefferson Davis." 
Erased in 1862. 
Although it is still a matter of dispute, it is generally ac- 
cepted as a fact that the name was cut out in 1862 by order of 
Caleb Smith, Secretary of the Interior (then in charge or the 
aqueduct system), at the suggestion of Representative Galusha 
Grow of Pennsvlvania, afterward Speaker of the House. 

The most recent as well as the most determined effort to- 
ward the restoration of Jeff Davis' name was made in 1907. In 
that year the Society of the Daughters of the Confederacy, at 
Richmond, adopted strong resolutions in favor of the restora- 
tion of the name, and W. P. Phillips, W. B. Smith and other 
citizens joined the movement. Representative Adolph Meyer, 
of Louisiana, since deceased, took a specially active part m the 
matter and induced the Secretary of War (Mr. Taft) to have 
the matter thoroughly investigated. 

Maj. Cosby's Report, 
Maj. Spencer Cosby, Engineer Commissioner of the District, 
was in charge of the Washington aqueduct system at that time. 
He made an examination of all availabl^e records and made a 
full report of his researches in July, 1907. 

After giving a short history of the bridge and telling of the 
erasure of Jefferson Davis' name, Maj. Cosby summarized his 
report as follows: 

'•While I have been able to find nothing in the official records 
as to the erasure of this name, it is understood that it was cut 
out in 1862 at the order of the Secretary of the Interior, under 
whose department the aqueduct had at that time been placed. 

"In view of the name given the arch and inscribed on the 
corresponding panel of the opposite abutment, the replacing of 
the name of Mr. Davis at this tim.e would partake of a certain 
grim irony which would mar what otherwise might seem a gra- 
cious act. The policy of such an act is not thought to be a 
proper matter for discussion in this report. 

Not Secretary at the Time. 

"The argument of Mr. Phillips for the restoration of the name 
of Jefferson Davis loses force from the fact that he is mis- 
taken in his principal point. Jefferson Davis was not Secre- 
tary of War when Cabin John Bridge was built, and I can 
find nothing in our records to show that he ever saw or approved 
the plans for that structure. He was Secretary of War when 



62 



work on other parts of the aqueduct was started, in 1853, but 
the plans which he then recommended for approval showed a 
bridge of five arches over Cabin John Valley. The actual con- 
struction work on the bridge was begun in 1857, shortly after 
Mr. Davis ceased to be Secretary of War. 

"Many of the drawings and estimates made during the early 
period of the construction of Cabin John Bridge bear the name 
of Alfred L. Rives as assistant or division engineer, in addition 
to that of M. C. Meigs as chief engineer. It does not appear 
that Mr. Rives' name was ever placed on the tablet at Cabin 
John Bridge, although it is engraved with that of five other as- 
sistant engineers in the gatehouse at Great Falls. It has been 
stated that it was the intention of Capt. Meigs to have Mr. 
Rives' name placed on the bridge, but that he changed his mind 
when Mr. Rives left the work in 1861, when it was only par- 
tially completed. 

"At the present time it is not usual to place the names of 
public officials upon structures erected by the engineer depart- 
ment. If it is decided to have any names inscribed on Cabin 
John Bridge there are many Presidents, Secretaries of War, 
chief engineers and assistant engineers whose names it might 
be claimed should be among those selected." 

[Should read "Confederated Southern Memorial Association" 
wherever printed "Daughters of Confederacy."] 



HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, II. S. 

Washington. D. C, March 9, 1909. 
Mrs. W. J. Behan, President Confederated Southern Memorial Asso- 
ciation, New Orleans, La.: 
Dear Madam, — I am in receipt of your favor of the 27th ultimo, 
and assure you that I am very much elated at the order of President 
Roosevelt. He has done his duty, and is entitled to the credit. I 
feel confident that I could have passed my bill through Congress, 
but as it was results we were after rather than anything else, I am 
extremely glad to have the matter settled in so satisfactory a way. 
Very truly yours, 

C. C. CARLIN. 



STATE OF ALABAMA. 
Department of Archives and History. 
Thomas M. Owen, LL. D. Director. 

Montgomery, March 10, 1909. 
My Dear Mrs. Behan: 

I v/ish to most heartily felicitate you and the Confederated 
Southern Memorial Association on the success of your agitation to 



63 

secure the restoration of the name of Jefferson Davis to the tablet on 
Cabin John Bridge. All Confederate organizations must rejoicB in 
this act of simple justice on the part of the Federal Government. 
Slowly and yet surely both history and public sentiment are coming 
to a right appreciation of the historic contentions of the South, and 
I confidently look for the time when the North will join us in 
doing honor, not only to the principles for which our fathers fought, 
but also to the men, both of high and low rank, who so nobly and 
bravely battled for these rights. 

I have the honor to remain with sincere esteem, 

Very respectfully, THOS. M. OWEN. 

Mrs. W. J. Behan, New Orleans, La. 



extkacts from letter received fko:\i major joh.x j. hood, of jackson, 
Miss. 

March 15, 1909. 
Mbs. W. J. Behan, New Orleans: 

My Esteemed Friend, — I congratulate you most sincerely on the 
success you had with your laudable and strenuous effort to have the 
name of our great chieftain restored on the tablet on Cabin John 
Bridge. It was doing justice to Mr. Davis as an able and honored 
servant of the Government and was but perpetuating an historical 
fact — and it carries with it the order to restore a graceful sentiment 
of reconciliation, that though seemingly of little significance to the 
powers that be, means a great deal to us. 

As the "Star," of Meridian, Miss., well says: "It was well done," it 
was a timely and appropriate thing to do, and will be recognized and 
appreciated by the people of the South as a silent renunciation (by 
Roosevelt) of a mistaken view formerly held of the character of one 
of the greatest Americans who ever lived." * * * The restoration of 
the name now stands a towering monument to him and to acknowl- 
edgment of his greatness; so after all, the Government is the honored 
one, for his name and fame were not born to die! 

With thanks for courtesies, with renewed congratulations, and with 
sentiments of high esteem, I am, madam. 

Cordially and sincerely your friend, 

JNO. J. HOOD. 



Atlanta, Ga., March 26, 1909. 
Mrs. W. J. Behan. President C. S. M. A.: 

My Dear Mrs. Behan. — I have no need to assure you of my great 
pleasure in having been permitted to have association with you so 
many years in the successful efforts to maintain the truth, the dig- 



64 

r.ity and the honor of our Confederate movement. That movement by 
a great, intelligent, patriotic, Christian people is uplifted loftily above 
all the political, personal, ambitious, commercial, selfish movements 
in all history. 

The fame of the President and the great leaders is recognized by 
every fair patriot In all the world, I am almost ready to say, in quot- 
ing the notable petition of a great old man, "Now let thy servant de- 
part in peace." But, alas, not quite yet. I want to live a few years 
more to enjoy with our whole country the harvest and bright results 
of the controversy we have had with those of our countrj-men who 
v/ere so hard to convince. 

As a present duty which we owe to the country we must follow at 
once in the best spirit the suggestions which the restored name of 
Jefferson Davis on the "Cabin John Bridge" make to the world. That 
apparently small event marks far more than even a grand Southern- 
built monument. I do not mean that we should exult in a triumph 
over foes in this restoration of the words "Jefferson Davis" upon 
Cabin John Bridge; but that we should appreciate the act in the right 
spirit and with suitable expressions. I desire that the quiet work of 
the Southern women in this matter should be told by whoever is 
selected to speak of it before U. C V. convention at an appro- 
priate half hour. 

Further, we must put our countrymen in possession of the personal, 
patriotic, historical character of Jefferson Davis — I emphasize the 
importance of this information as being greater than even the building 
of monuments to his memory. We must build the monuments but we 
must not leave them alone to speak for him and us. We must place 
him in fame for his splendid personal attributes — his extraordinary 
patriotic career — his wonderful patience in suffering through a long 
life, etc. We must place him alongside our revolutionary heroes — our 
Washington, Jefferson, John Adams — alongside our Presidents, our 
statesmen of the middle period — alongside President Lincoln as he is 
portrayed to-day— Why not? What is tliere left in the life of Jefferson 
Davis for any man to condemn? 

Let his portrait be as widely distributed as the portrait of any 
other great man. Let our school books contain eulogies of Jefferson 
Davis as well as eulogies of President Lincoln. Let extracts from 
his speeches be used by our young boys in their declamations. In 
short, let us do for him whatever we do to make future generations 
remember any other great man. 

Well, Mrs. Behan, I find that I have been carried away out of 



65 

all discretion in writing this long letter. Forgive me; I will not 
treat you so any more. 

Faithfully your friend, 

CLEMENT A. EVANS. 



Atlant.v, Ga., March 29, 1909. 
My Dear Mrs. Beiia.-v, New Orleans: 

I write an immediate answer to your letter because I am always 
glad to be in co-operation with your good work. 

I am delighted by the fact that you will file your report with Gen'l 
Mickle, who will be glad to bring it to my notice at the proper time 
during the Reunion. 

I repeat that we must hold up the name of Jefferson Davis in 
high honor just as he well deserves. The country is getting in frame 
of mind to appreciate our noble President. 

With the most affectionate regard for you, I am, 
Your friend, 

CLEMENT A. EVANS. 



Atlanta, April 3, 1909. 
My Dear Mrs. Behan: 

Your approval of my suggestion as to the action of the U. C. V. 
in noticing the replacing of the name "Jefferson Davis" on Cabin 
John Bridge is very gratifying. We are under certain obligations in 
this matter — and what we do must be done delicately — Southern-like — 
unanimously and patriotically. I know that all this will be con- 
sidered. The meaning of that restoration is that Jefferson Davis 
himself is no longer looked upon as being sectionally or nationally 
persona non grata. Hereafter he will be viewed on his merits, and 
they are sufficient to place him among the notable great statesmen 
of his period. Your suggestion of Col. Hudson or Col. Guion as 
suitable to make the important short speech suits me fully. I will 
suggest, however, that Col. Guion has been selected or at least sug- 
gested to make the speech when the Vicksburg National Park and our 
Southern Monument there and particularly just now the bronze statue 
of General S. D. Lee shall be reported on. In connection with that 
park and Shiloh park, as well as the general monument matters, I 
think that Col. Guion should appropriately speak at that hour with 
others. Consult with General Mickle and have the arrangements made. 

Anticipating great pleasure in meeting you at Memphis, I am. 
Your faithful friend, 

CLEMENT A. EVANS. 



66 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 

Washington, D. C, April 9, 1909. 
Mrs. W. J. Behan, New Orleans, Louisiana: 

Dear Madam, — I herewith enclosed you article published in the 
Evening Star of a few days ago, which will give you full information 
with reference to the matter about which we have been corresponding. 
Very truly yours, C. C. CARLIN. 



TO RESTORE NAME OF DAVIS. 

Bids Opened for Recarving Cabin John Bridge Tablet — Present 

Inscription To Be Removed and New Letters To Be 

Cut In The Fresh Surface. 

Proposals were opened to-day at the office of the engineer in 
charge of the Washington aqueduct for restoring the name of 
Jefferson Davis to the stone tablet on Cabin John Bridge, six 
miles west of the city, from which it was expunged in Presi- 
dent Lincoln's administration. The name is to be restored in 
accordance with orders given by President Roosevelt on Wash- 
ington's birthday, less than two weeks before he left the office 
of chief executive. Although the amount of work to be done 
is comparatively small and the cost very little, yet it took con- 
siderable time to get the orders through the various channels 
to the officer directly in charge of the work, wlio at once went 
about completing the necessary details. The bridge is a high 
structure and considerable scaffolding has had to be erected 
where the mechanics will do their work. 

Culmination of Efforts. 

The restoration of Mr. Davis' name to the tablet will mark 
the culmination of many efforts with that object in view, which, 
however, will finally be accomplished without the immediate 
appeal of any organization or individual, but by the direct orders 
of Mr. Roosevelt himself. An allotment of $250 was made for 
the work by the engineer's office. The specifications asking bids 
for the restoration of the name read as follows: 

"Restoring the name of Jefferson Davis on the granite tablet 
on the west abutment of Cabin John Bridge by removing the en- 
tire face of the stone about five by eleven feet to a depth ap- 
proximatelj^ one inch or sufficient to form a new, clean, smooth 
bushed surface and recutting the legend now upon the tablet 
with the addition of the name Jefferson Davis as shown upon 
the rubbing with 'v'-cut letters. The present ogee marginal 
border around the tablet is to be bushed to a clean bevel cut 
one and one-half inches wide." 

The Inscription. 

Two stone tablets are built in the bridge, one on each abut- 
ment (south face). One bears the inscription: 

Union Arch, 

Chief Engineer, Capt. Montgomery C. Meigs, 

U. S. Corps of Engineers. 

Esto perpetua. 




BEGUN A 1853 PRkSlOENT OF THE U S 
FRANKLIN PIERCE SECRETARY OF WAR 
JEFFERSON DAVIS BUILDING A D 186! 
PRESIDENT OF THE US ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
SECRETARY OF WAR SIMON CAMERON 



J B. HORNE restoring JEFFERSON DAVIS 
name on CABIN JOHN BRIDGE. May 14, 1909, 

Washington, D. C. GopvM^>-.! M.y 25. 1909, 



67 

The other: 

Washington Aqueduct. 

Begun A. D. 1853. 

President of the U. S., Franklin Pierce. 

Secretary of War, , 

Building A. D. 1861. 

President of the U. S., Abraham Lincoln, 

Secretary of War, Simon Cameron. 

The blank space in the above description indicates the place 
formerly filled by Mr. Davis' name. Its absence from the tab- 
let all these years has always stimulated curiosity on the part of 
sightseers, who made inquiries as to why the space was blank 
and whose name, if any, had filled it. The presence of the 
name there, as an army ofiicer pointed out to-day, will put Mr. 
Davis' name in the same category as the others now on the 
tablet, which because of its comparatively inconspicuous posi- 
tion will not attract the attention that it heretofore has and will 
relieve the ubiquitous guide of one of his subjects for comment 
and an object of interest to be pointed out to tourists. 

It will probably take a workman two weeks to do the work 
required by the specifications. The use of the "V" shaped let- 
ters to be chiseled in the tablet is less expensive and less la- 
borious than the square cut letters usually adopted, but at the 
same time they are conspicuous. 



[Washington Post, April 18, 1909.] 

SINGS AS HE CHISELS. 

Stonecutter Home Puts Love Into His Task — Loyal To Memory 
Of Davis — JVIississippian Tells How He Long Hoped For the 
Honor of Restoring The Name of Confederacy's Lead- 
er To Granite Slab on Cabin John Bridge — And 
His Dream Came True — Back to Dixie. 

James B. Home, native son of Mississippi, stonecutter by 
trade, loyal to the lost cause, and as stout of heart as he is strong 
of arm, is doing a labor of love out at Cabin John Bridge, and, 
incidentally, making for James B. Home, of Moss Point, Miss., 
a little niche in the hall of fame. 

For several hours each week day one can find Mr. Home, 
perched high up on a frail scaffold, mall and chisel in hand, 
chipping away at a granite slab, with one end in view — to re- 
store to its rightful place in the historic tablet on the historied 
span, the name of Jefferson Davis, Secretary of War when work 
on Cabin John Bridge was started by the United States gov- 
ernment. 

Asked to tell something al)Out the lure that brought him to 
the National Capital, here to ply his trade on one job alone, 
the Mississippian said while seated on the bank by the side of 
the little stream the bridge so proudly spans: 
How It Came About. 

"It is this way. There isn't anybody but my old lady and my- 
self. You see we were in California last year knocking around. 
I have sort of retired, and we wanted to go there, so we did. 
Well," here Mr. Home plucked a blade of grass meditatively. 



68 

"we wanted to see an inauguration, so we came on for Taft's. 
It was just after we had gotten here, when I read a story in The 
Post about the restoration of Jefferson Davis' name on the 
marble slab, and I said to my old lady, said I: Tm going to 
get that job if I have to pester the whole of the government to 
do it.' 

"But wait a bit. I'm going too fast. About ten or fifteen 
years ago, when I was working down in Birmingham, Ala., one 
day I read in one of the papers an article about this bridge, and 
how the name of Davis had been taken off. I was nothing but 
a boy when the Civil War was going on, but we all down there 
were mighty hot at having the name taken off, anyhow, and I 
had heard of it. But when I read that article I said to my old 
lady, said I: 'I sure would like to have the job of putting that 
name back on there, and, by George, if it ever is going to be put 
back I'll do it.' 

Glad He Read The Post. 

"Well, I didn't see any prospect of its ever being put back 
on, till, as I said, I came here. You may just reckon I was some 
glad to read that story in The Post. Then I learned there were 
going to be bids made on it. So I filled out a blank. I reckoned 
on most all of the others bidding at about .$200 or $250, so I 
said to myself, for the honor and glory of the thing I'll go lower, 
so down I put $210. 

"Well, then it came out as to how the bids had gone. Shelton 
& Co. had bid $147. Now, you know, I was knocked out. I said 
to my old lady, said I, 'I'll bet I lose.' Well, you know, after 
having wanted for fifteen years to have my wish it was mighty 
hard to give up then. But I got an idea. I went to the Shelton 
place, and I saw Mr. Shelton. 'Mr. Shelton,' said I, 'I sure do 
want to put Davis' name back on the slab at Cabin John Bridge, 
Now, what's going to be done? Can I come and work for you?' 

" 'Sure,' said Mr. Shelton. Well, we started out, and I was to 
work by the day. Then he found out he was losing money, and 
so I said, 'Here, I'll take the thing.' So I did. Of course, the 
contract is in Shelton's name, but I'm doing the job. 

"Some Work," Says Home. 

"You know there's some work on that thing. It isn't just 
putting the name in. Lord bless you no, child! That whole 
thing has to be leveled off, first with one kind of tool, and so 
on through four. Then the whole tablet has to be all re-lettered. 
But I'll tell you what. You know I have to be through, by May 
15th. I'm going to knock that in the collar and finish it be- 
tween the 10th and that time. 

"I've done lots of jobs," said Home, "but this one sure is to 
my liking. You know, I'm an orphan, and, as I said, there is 
no one in our family but my old lady and me. But I have a 
little niece, Bessie. The other day I wrote to Bessie, and I 
said, said I, 'Bessie, your Uncle Jim is sure enough putting 
those letters back on that thing.' And when I get through I'm 
going to get the history of the place, take some pictures of the 
bridge, and then go home. 

"You know, my old lady wants me to settle down, and for us 



69 

to live here in Washington. Now, I haven't a thing against 
this place. But, bless you, a stonecutter has no home. Why, 
I've followed my work all my life. I've been all over the coun- 
try — anywhere the work was. 

Going Back to Dixie. 

"And, anyway, when I've done what I wanted to I'm going 
back to my home, Moss Point, Miss., and settle down. But I 
sure have to be going on with that work now." 

So saying, Mr. Home scrambled up the bank, over the single 
plank that stood between him and the ground many feet below, 
and was soon safe on his little scaffold. Suddenly he turned 
around. 

"Hi, don't you all want a piece of this?" and so saying he 
tossed a bit of the granite over the intervening space, the val- 
ley reechoing just afterward to the sound of his chisel, as he 
plied it, a song on his lips. 



[Telegram.] 

Washington, D. C, May 15, 1909. 
Mrs. W. J. Beiian, 1207 Jackson Ave., New Orleans, La.: 

Restoration Davis name Cabin John Bridge all done except fin- 
ishing touches, May 14. Souvenirs by express. 

SAMUEL E. LEWIS, M. D. 
Chairman Monumental Committee U. C. V. 



Washington, D. C, May 15, 1909. 5 P. M. 
My Dear Mrs. Beiian: 

Your telegram received this A. M. Visited Cabin John Bridge, 
and went on scaffold with Mr. Home. Delivered your letter to 
him. He had received none of your former communications. Mr. 
Home finished the cutting all the letters of the new inscription yes- 
terday. He is now going over his work, doing the finishing touches 
here and there, as may be necessary to make his work smoother and 
more nearly perfect. He promised that he would write you to- 
morrow. I brought home with me from the scaffold the fragments of 
stone which I send herewith. Mr. Home presented me with the en- 
closed photo taken yesterday, when he was completing the name 
of Mr. Davis, and I turn it over to you. I telegraphed you immediately 
upon my return to the city. Yours sincerely, 

SAMUEL E. LEWIS, M. D. 
Chairman Monumental Com. U. C. Teterans. 



[From Washington-Post, May 16. 1909.] 
MUST FINISH WORK IN WEEK 
Contract for restoring Davis' Name on Bridge extended. 
Maj. J. J. Morrow, the engineer officer in charge of the Washington 



70 

Aqueduct, has extended for one week the time to complete the woi-k of 
restoring the name of Jefferson Davis on the stone tablet at Cabin 
John Bridge. 

The contract called for the work to be finished yesterday, but it 
is understood that bad weather interfered with its progress. 



Dear Mrs. Behan: Washington, D. C, May 16, 1909. 

I telegraphed you yesterday the exact fact. The lettering of the 
entire inscription is all cut — was finished in the cutting Friday May 
14th. The only remaining work to be done is to put on the finishing 
touches, so that all letters and the entire surface shall be as smooth as 
possible. To do this finishing v/ill require several more days. Mr. 
Home told me yesterday that even that would be done by next 
Thursday. 

The souvenirs by express probably were not called for at the 
agency last evening and may not go forward till Monday. In the 
same box is a short statement letter. Sincerely yours, 

SAMUEL E. LEWIS, M. D. 
Chairman Monumental Com. U. C. V. 

N. B. — Remember that yesterday the 15th I myself was on the 
scaffold with Mr. Home and saw his entire work, and that I saw 
that all the letters of the entire inscription were already cut. 

SAMUEL E. LEWIS, M. D. 



Neav Orleans. La., May 17, 1909. 
Hon. J. M. Dickinson. Secretary of War, Washington, D. C: 

Dear Sir, — The "Cabin John Bridge" Committee appointed by the 
President of the Confederated Southern Memorial Association at its 
Convention in Richmond, Va., June, 1907, most respectfully request 
information from the Department of the Hon. Secretary of War as to 
the progress being made in the work of restoring the name Jefferson 
Davis on Cabin John Bridge, Washington. D. C. The chairman of 
the committee will appreciate advice from the War Department when 
the restoration is completed. Very respectfully, 

MRS. W. J. BEHAN, President. 
Confederated Southern Memorial Association. 



[Telegram.] 

Richmond, Va.. May 20, 1909. 
Mrs, W. J. Behan, 1207 Jackson Ave., New Orleans, La.: 

Yours seventeenth received. Congratulations on your grand work 
restoration name Jefferson Davis to Cabin .John Bridge. 

MRS. .J. ENDERS ROBINSON. 
Virginia Committee. 



71 

UNITED STATES ENGINEER'S OFFICE. 
920 Seventeenth Street, N. W. 

Washinctox, D. C, May 21, 1909. 
Mrs. W. J. Behan, Pres't Confederated Southern Memorial Association. 
Chairman Cabin John Bridge Committee. 
1207 Jackson Avenue, New Orleans, La.: 
Dear Madam, — Your letter of the 17th inst, addressed to the Sec- 
retary of War, requesting information as to the progress being made in 
the work of restoring the name of Jefferson Davis on Cabin John 
Bridge has been referred to this office for reply. 

I have to advise that the work was completed on the 19th inst. 
"Very respectfully, 

JXO. J. MORROW, 
Major, Corps of Engineers. 



[This circular letter to each member of the Cabin John Bridge Com- 
mittee, relieving them from further duty.] 

jjj^g New Orleans, La., May 21, 1909. 

The members of Cabin John Bridge Committee are congratulated 
on the success of their patriotic efforts to have the name of Jeffer- 
son Davis restored to its former place on the tablet on Cabin John 
Bridge, Washington, D. C. 

The restoration is now completed, and the Cabin John Bridge Com- 
mittee is thanked and relieved from further duty. 

MRS. W. J. BBHAN, President, 
Confederated Southern Mernorial Ass''n: Chairman Cabin John Bridge. 



TExtract from letter from Mr. J. B. Home, of Moss Point, Miss., who 
re-carved the name Jefferson Davis on Cabin John Bridge.] 

MBS. W. J. Behan: Wasiiixctox, D. C, May 24, 1909. 

Dear Madam, — Your kind letter of the 19th came to hand to-day. 
I received a splendid letter to-day from Mrs. Hayes, which I shall 
hold very dear. It was a surprise to me, and contained a nice present, 
which came In good time. The pieces of stone that I sent you are 
from around the space where Jefferson Davis' name was erased. 
You will notice that the edge is dressed, showing the depth of the 
panel. I could not get off a very large piece, as it was so hard. I 
have a large piece that came from between the A and R In the word 
War, as Secretary of War, and several smaller pieces from the same 
line. I don't know yet what I shall do with the tools; would like to 
present them to the Museum at Richmond, and, if I am successful here, 
perhaps will at their next meeting. I made a great success of the 



72 

work and have been praised by people from all over the country. It 
was a terrible strain on me, but I am resting and getting ready for 
the struggle again. If I ever get back I will surely call on you, and let 
you know that there are some men still living that never forget. 
Hoping that the souvenirs will reach you, I am, 
Very truly yours, 
304 Indiana Ave., Washington, D. C. J. B. HORNE. 



[Letter from LiBut. Gen'l C Irvine Walker, Army Northern Virginia. 

Department IT. C. V.] 

ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT 

United Confederated Veterans, 

Lieut. Gen'l C. Irvine Walker, Commanding. 

My Dear Mrs. Beiiax: Charleston, S. C, May 25, 1909. 

Yours of 22d inst. to hand. I certainly do rejoice with and add 
my congratulations that the splendid work that you advise me of has 
been completed. I think we have many evidences that the harsh 
feelings and bitterness engendered by the war, are passing away. It 
is a fortunate provision of an all-wise Providence that the gentle in- 
fluence of time removes many of the acerbities of life. You and I 
are fortunate to have lived to see this, and to see, what is more remark- 
able, that even our quondam enemies are doing justice to our mag- 
nificent struggle for liberty. 

I hope to have the pleasure of seeing you often at the Memphis 
Reunion. With all good comradely love, 

I am, most sincerely, 

C. IRVINE WALKER. 



[New Orleans, Daily Picayune, May 30, 1909.] 

JEFFERSON DAVSS' NAME RESTORED ON CABIN 

JOHN BRIDGE. 

Work Completed and Name of Great Southern Leader Chiseled 

on Tablet Way 14th, by Captain James B. Home, of 

Moss Point, Miss. 

The name of Jefferson Davis has been re.stored to Cabin John 
Bridge, Washington, D. C. The last letter was cut May 14th, 
and the work is now complete. 

Back of this restoration is a story of rare interest to the 
whole South. Coming- just at this time it will be of special 
interest because on June 3d, next Thursday, the anniversary of 
the birth of Jefferson Davis will be observed with the usual 
Memorial Day services and pa5nng honor to the memory of 
sacred dead. 

Jefferson Davis was Secretary of War in 1853, during the ad- 
ministration of Franklin Pierce. This celebrated bridge, a 
great engineering problem, was constructed during the ad- 



73 

ministration of Secretary of War Davis. His name was placed 
upon the tablet. In 1862, after the War of the States had 
broken out, the name of Jefferson Davis was ordered stricken 
off. It was erased with a chisel and the blank space has re- 
mained there until now restored. 

To the Confederated Southern Memorial Association belongs 
the credit of having originated the project to secure a resto- 
ration of the name and having kept after it with unfailing en- 
ergy until it was done. Mrs. W. J. Behan, 1207 Jackson Avenue, 
this city, is President of the Association. She is now serving 
her third term as President and in her tenth year. It was at 
the Convention in Richmond, Va., in June, 1907. that the move- 
ment to have this respect and honor shown the memory of the 
former great Confederate chieftain originated. 

Alon- with the patriotic direction of the movement by the 
Ladies'" Confederated Association must be mentioned the story 
of heroism and patriotism of Captain James B. Home, of Moss 
Point Miss., who has performed the mechanical work of re- 
storing the name of Jefferson Davis. Mr. Home is a stonecut- 
ter by trade, of Moss Point. When the project had reached the 
point of having the tablet resurfaced and the name re-entered 
upon it, Mr. Home left Moss Point and went to Washington to 
secure the contract. 

"Not for what there is in it, but for the love of my South- 
land and to be able to perform this little service in memory of 
Jefferson Davis," was the sentiment expressed by Mr. Home 
as he took the train for the National Capital. 

When it came to letting the contract, the firm of J. H. Shel- 
ton & Son of Washington, underbid the stonecutter ol 
Mississippi and secured the contract for $147. Mr. Home was 
sorely disappointed. He left his home in Moss Point with this 
one object in view. Determined to do the work at all hazards 
before ever returning to his native State, Captain Home went 
to the contractors and offered to do the work for most noth- 
ing just to have the honor. He was given the job. 

"It was a labor of love," wrote Mr. Home to Mrs. Behan 
a few davs ago, "but I feel that I have rendered a service for 
my people which nothing else could satisfy. I shall keep the 
tools with which this work has been done, twenty-four chisels 
and a hammer, and they shall neve^- be used on another job 
if I can prevent it." 

Dr Samuel E. Lewis, Chairman of the Monumental Commit- 
tee U. C. v.. wired Mrs. Behan from Washington on May 15th, 
as 'follows: "Restoration of Davis' name Cabin John Bridge all 
done except fii^ishing touches May 14th. Souvenirs by express.' 
Mr. Home also wrote Mrs. Behan of the final completion of 
the labor. The souvenirs mentioned consist of chips from the 
hard granite, while carving the name of Davis. 

Captain Home and his wife will now return to Moss Point. 
He wrote a letter detailing some of his experiences while re- 
storing the name. He referred to the small pay and the diffi- 
cult undertaking. Having to work directly in front of him he 
found it exceedingly difficult. Dr. Gerald Webb, of Colorado 
Sprin-7?. who had married into the Davis family, called on him 



74 

while at work. Since the completion Mr. Home has received 
a delightful letter from Mrs. Addison Hayes, the only sur- 
viving child of President Davis. 

The history of Jiow the restoration of Davis' name was ac- 
complished through the energies of the Confederated Southern 
Memorial Association, Mrs. W. J. Behan, President, will form 
an interesting bit of Confederate history in years to come. It 
was at the Richmond Convention of the Association in 1907 
that the first steps were taken. Mrs. J. Addison Hayes, of Col- 
orado Springs, being present, spoke in favor of the movement. 
Mrs. J. Enders Robinson, a delegate from the Confederate Me- 
morial Literary Society, of Richmond, Va., offered the following 
resolution: 

"Be it resolved. That we, the 'Confederated Southern Memo- 
rial Association,' in convention assembled, in the city of Rich- 
mond, Va., on this, the 1st day of June, 1907, do request the 
United States Government to have the name of Jefferson Davis 
restored to the tablet on Cabin John Bridge, from which it 
was removed during the war." 

This resolution was amended by adding, "and that we invite 
the United Confederate Veterans and all other Confederate or- 
ganizations to unite with the Confederated Southern Memorial 
Association in its effort to have the patriotic and historical pur- 
pose accomplished on or before June 3, 1908." 

The resolution, as amended, was unanimously adopted. The 
President of the Confederated Southern Memorial Association 
was authorized to appoint a committee to work in this con- 
nection, consisting of the heads of Confederate organizations 
and delegates to this Convention. The committee consisted of 
Hon. Adolph Meyer, member of Congress from Louisiana; Gen- 
eral Stephen D. Lee, Commander-in-Chief, U. C. V.; Mrs. Lizzie 
George Henderson, President General, U. D. C; Mr. John W. 
Apperson, Commander-in-Chief, U. S. C. V.; Mrs. Geo. S. 
Holmes, President Jefferson Davis Monument Association; Mrs. 
J. Enders Robinson and Mrs. Alfred Gray, delegates from the 
Confederate Memorial Literary Society, Richmond, Va. ; Miss 
M. B. Poppenheim, delegate from the Ladies' Confederate Me- 
morial Association, Charleston, S. C; Mrs. W. J. Behan, New 
Orleans, Chairman. Upon her return to New Orleans Mrs. Be- 
han had a personal interview Avith Mr. Meyer, who expressed 
a hearty sympathy with the movement and readily consented 
to take charge of the matter in the name of the Confederated 
Southern Memorial Association. His advice was to be patient, 
and to act with prudence, that the matter should not be brought 
before Congress, but that it be left with the President or the 
Secretary of War. In July, 1907, Mr. Meyer wrote Mrs. Be- 
han as follows: "I feel confident of success, a confidence war- 
ranted by several conferences that I have had with Secretary 
Taft." 

In March, 1908, Congressman Meyer died. In April Mrs. Be- 
han wrote United States Senator Murphy J. Foster, request- 
ing- him to take up the matter where :Mr. Meyer had left ofr. 
Mr. Foster accepted the task and took up the matter with Sec- 
retary of War William Howard Taft upon his return from the 



75 

PhiliDoines Mrs. Behan wrote Secretary of War Tatt to his 
^^^^^ceJor General Luke E. Wright, and to President Roose- 
veU Prompt and courteous replies were received which gave 
her every^ncouragement. General B. F. Bshleman. who was m 
AA^ashin' ton o? business in December, 1908, called on the Sec- 
retary of War who promised to take up the matter with Presi- 
denTVoosTvelt. OtAer negotiations continued until Februarj-^ 
1909 when President Roosevelt issued his order to have the 
name If Jefferson Davis restored to the commemorative tablet 
on Cabin John Bridge. There was great -^^°-;f^ ^ f °f ^^ 
erate circles, and Mrs. Behan sent telegrams of thanks to the 
President Washington officials, and other interested parties. 
By this act President Roosevelt won the esteem and admira- 
Uon of all fair-minded persons North and South. Many con- 
grTtulatory letters have been received by Mrs. Behan, and she 
w^ihes especially to thank General Clement A. Evans, Com- 
mander-in-Chief, U. C. v.: Dr. Thos. M. Owen, Historian Gen- 
PT-al U S C V ; Colonel Lewis Guion, Chairman ot History 
committee. Louisiana Division, U. C. V.; Hon^ C. C^ Cf -^ 
Member of Congress from Virginia; Major John J- Hood, of 
Jackson. Miss., and Mr. Walter P. Phillip, of Bridgeport Conn 
who had assisted the Committee by writing a personal letter 
to President Roosevelt. 

General Evans wrote: "The replacing of Jefferson Davis' name 
means more than the building of a monument to him 

On May 21, 1909, of the current month. General Clement A. 
Evans, General Commanding, issued a special order. No. 13. m 
which he noted the restoration of the Davis' name and said: 

"By this restoration an act of justice has been done to one 
of America's greatest statesmen. The fact is in itself trivial, 
but it is momentous in significance. It emphasizes the truth 
that our countrymen will recognize worth; that Mr. Davis, who 
was thoroughly Southern in his sentiments, can be truly valued 
by those who were once his enemies, and that he was actu- 
ated by lofty motives and conceptions of duty, as were other 
statesmen and soldiers of the Confederacy. 

"It is possible that this desirable result would never have 
been reached had not our glorious women taken the matter in 
hand and pushed it to tompletion. The Confederated Southern 
Memorial Association started the work in 1907, and Mrs J. 
Enders Robinson, of Richmond, and Mrs. W. J. Behan. of New 
Orleans, assisted by the U. D. C. and kindred organizations have 
the thanks of all Confederates for the accomplishment of this 
work." 

On May 17th, of this month, Mrs. Behan released the Com- 
mittee appointed in Richmond in 1907, and extended her sin- 
cere congratulations over the result. The Committee consisted 
of General Clement A. Evans, vice General Stephen D. Lee. 
deceased; Mrs. Cornelia Branch Stone, vice Mrs. Lizzie George 
Henderson, retired; Mr. John W. Apperson, Mrs. George S. 
Holmes, Mrs. J. Enders Robinson, Mrs. Alfred Gray, Miss M. B. 
Poppenheim. Hon. Murphy J. Foster, United States Senator 
vice Hon. Adolph Meyer, deceased; Mrs. W. J. Behan, Chair- 
man. 



76 

REPORT OF CHAIRMAN CABIN JOHN BRIDGE COMMITTEE — 

AT :\IEMPHIS, TENN., CONVENTION. C. S. M. A., 

JUNE 7-10, 1909. 

The NAiiE of Jeffeusox Davis Restored to Tablet on Cabin John 
Bridge. 

At the Annual Convention of the Confederated Southern Me- 
morial Association held in Richmond, Va., May 30-June 3, 1907, 
this important work was inaugurated. On June 1st, Mrs. J. Enders 
Robinson, a delegate from the Confederate Memorial Literary So- 
ciety of Richmond,, Va., offered a resolution to this e|fect: "That 
the Confederated Southern Memorial Association take the neces- 
sary steps to have the United States Government replace the name of 
Jefferson Davis on the tablet of Cabin John Bridge, and that the 
United Confederate Veterans and all other Confederate organizations 
be invited to unite with the Confederated Southern Memorial Asso- 
ciation in its efforts to accomplish this patriotic object. The Presi- 
dent of the Confederated Southern Memorial Association was au- 
thorized to appoint a committee, which was done, and the commit- 
tee was as follows: Hon. Adolph Meyer, M. C. from Louisiana; 
General Stephen D. Lee, Mississippi; Mrs. Lizzie George Henderson, 
Mississippi; Mr. Jno. W. Apperson, Tennessee; Mrs. J. Enders 
Robinson, Virginia: Mrs. Alfred Gray, Virginia; Mrs. Geo. S. Holmes, 
S. Carolina; Miss Mary B. Poppenheim, S. Carolina; Mrs W. J. 
Eehan, Louisiana, chairman. 

Shortly after my return to New Orleans from Richmond, I 
had a personal interview with Hon. Adolph Meyer, who declared him- 
self in hearty sympathy with the movement and promised to do all 
in his power to bring it to a successful issue. In July, 1907, he wrote 
as follows: "I feel satisfied that we will succeed in the movement 
to restore the name of Jefferson Davis to Cabin John Bridge — a con- 
fidence warranted by the results of several conferences I have had 
with Secretary of War Taft, whose voice will be practically potential 
in the matter. However, we must indulge ourselves in patience and 
proceed tactfully, in order to meet conditions on all sides. It can 
not be forced immediately." 

In the year 1908 it became necessary to change the personelle 
of the Cabin John Bridge Committee, owing to the death of Hon. 
Adolph Meyer, who died in March, 1908, and of General Stephen D. 
Lee, who denarted this life on May 2 8th, same year. Those two 
vacancies were filled by the appointment of Hon. Murphy J. Foster, 
U. S. Senator from Louisiana, to succeed Hon. Adolph Meyer; and 
General Clement A. Evans, to succeed the late General Lee. Mrs. 
Henderson's term of office having expired in December, 1907. she re- 




MRS. W. J. BEHAN, 

The PresiiU'iil of the Confederated Southern Memorial Association, 
New Orleans, Louisiana. 



77 



signed; aud her successor, Mrs. Cornelia Branch Stone, was ap- 
pointed to fill the place. In accepting, Mrs. Stone expressed thanks 
and appreciation for the appointment. 

From the start to the finish I was ever on the alert, studying 
the best policy to be observed, and was in constant correspondence 
with the officials at Washington, D. C. Prompt, courteous, and en- 
couraging replies were received from Hon. W. H. Taft while he was 
Secretary of War, from his successor, Hon. Luke E. Wright, and His 
Excellency, President Roosevelt. 

Mrs. J. Enders Robinson, the Virginia member of the com- 
mittee and the mover of this patriotic resolution, rendered valuable 
service. It was through her efforts that we succeeded in keeping the 
matter out of Congress. 

General Clement A. Evans, also a member of the Cabin John 
Bridge Committee, was at all times in thorough accord with me, and 
was confident of success. He reported that he would write a strong 
letter to Hon. Luke E. Wright "in the true vein." 

During the month of December, General B. F. Eshleman, a 
brave and gallant officer of the Washington Artillery, of New 
Orleans, was called to Washington on business and at my request, 
he called on President Roosevelt and the Secretary of War in the 
interest of this important movement. He found the latter very 
favorably disposed and received assurances from him that the matter 
would be taken up with the President in a short time. 

On January 9, 1909, the following letter was received from 
Hon. Luke E. Wright: 

My Dear Mrs. Beiiax: 

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your favor of the 21st ultimo, 
in regard to the desire of the Confederated Southern Memorial As- 
sociation to have the name of Jefferson Davis restored to Cabin 
John Bridge. I shall be pleased to take the matter up with the 
President and see what can be done. 

Sincerely yours, 

LUKE E. WRIGHT. 
Mes. W. J. Behan. President Confederated Southern Memorial Asso- 
ciation, New Orleans. 



It was soon after this date that President Roosevelt ordered 
Chief Engineer Marshall to have the name of Jefferson Davis re- 
stored to the commemorative tablet on Cabin John Bridge and 
directed that the order be made public on February 22d. 

There was great rejoicing in all Confederate circles when this 
news was flashed ar-ross the wires. Thanks were sent in the name of 



78 

the Confederated Southern Memorial Association to President 
Roosevelt, Hon. Luke E. Wright, and Murphy J. Foster, United 
States Senator from Louisiana, who had charge of the matter after 
the death of Mr. Meyer. 

By this act ex-President Roosevelt has written his name in im- 
perishable lines. Congratulatory letters were received from General 
Evans, Commander-in-Chief, United Confederate Veterans; Col. 
Lewis Guion, chairman of the History Committee of the Louisiana 
Division; Mr. Walter L. Phillips,, of Bridgeport, Conn., who had 
written to President Roosevelt asking that this tardy act of justice 
be done the name of Jefferson Davis; from Dr. Thos. M. Owen, 
Historian General, United Southern Confederate Veterans; Hon. C. 
C Carlin, Member of Congress from Virginia, and others who were 
in sympathy with this movement. 

General Evans wrote as follows: "I congratulate you with all 
my soul on your success," and closes his letter by saying, "Thanking 
you and even blessing you for the noble measures you are taking to 
establish whatsoever is right in Confederate circles, I am, 

Your friend indeed, "CLEMENT A. EVANS."' 

On May 15th I received a letter from Mr. J. B. Home, the loyal 
and patriotic Mississippian who went on to Washington with a burn- 
ing desire to carve the name of Jefferson Davis in its original place. 
Mr. Home sent me a few small pieces of the stone that he chiseled 
oif, and also a postcard showing him on the scaffold, carving the 
letter "s" in Davis. From Dr. Sam'l E. Lewis, Washington, D. C. 
Chairman Monumental Committee U. C. V., I received a letter dated 
May 16th saying: "The letters in the inscription were all cut yes- 
terday. I was on the scaffold with Mr. Home and I saw that all the 
letters of the entire inscription were cut on May 14th." 

On May 20th a telegram was received from Mrs. J. Enders 
Robinson of the Virginia committee, saying: "Congratulations on 
your grand work, restoration name Jefferson Davis to Cabin John 
Bridge." 



On May 21, 1909, the following letter was received from the 
War Department: 

UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE. 
920 Seventeenth St. N. W. 

Washington, D. C, May 21, 1909. 
Mrs. W. J. Behan. President Confederated Southern Memorial Asso- 
ciation, Chairman Cabin John Bridge Committee, 1207 Jackson 

Ave., New Orleans, La.: 
Dear Madam. — Your letter of the 17th inst., addressed to the Sec- 



retary of War, requesting information as to the progress being 
made in the work of restoring name of Jefferson Davis on Cabin 
John Bridge, has been referred to this office for reply. 

I have to advise that the work was completed on the 19th inst. 
Very respectfully, 

JNO. J. MORROW, 
Major, Corps of Engineers. 

Upon receipt of this document the following notice was mailed 
to the several members of the committee: 

New Orleans, La., May 21, 1909. 
The members of the "Cabin John Bridge" Committee are con- 
gratulated On their success of their patriotic efforts to have the 
name of Jefferson Davis restored to the tablet on Cabin John Bridge, 
Washington, D. C. The object of the committee having been ac- 
complished, and the restoration being complete, the committee is 
thanked and relieved from further duty. 

MRS. W. J. BEHAN, 
President C. S. M. A. and Chairman "CaMn John Bridge Committee. 

Committee: — General Clement A. Evens, vice General Stephen 
D. Lee, deceased; Mrs. Cornelia Branch Stone, vice Mrs. Lizzie 
George Henderson, retired; Mr. John W. Apperson; Mrs. George 
S. Holmes; Mrs. J. Enders Robinson; Mrs. Alfred Gray; Miss M. 
B. Poppenheim; Hon. Murphy J. Foster, U. S. Senator, vice Hon. 
Adolph Meyer, M. C, deceased; Mrs. W. J. Behan, chairman. 

Our recording secretary wrote to Mrs. J. Addison Hayes, the 
only surviving daughter of our distinguished chieftain, conveying to 
her the glad tidings that the restoration of the name of Jefferson 
Davis to the tablet on "Cabin John Bridge" was completed on May 
19, 1909. On June 5th I received the following letter from Mrs. Hayes, 
and will treasure it with others received at various times from her 
dear mother. 

New Orleans, La., May 29, 1909. 
Mrs. J. Annisox Hayes, Colorado Springs, Col.: 

Dear Mrs. Hayes, — I am directed by the president, Mrs. W. J. 
Behan, to advise you of the restoration of the name of Jefferson 
Davis on the tablet on Cabin John Bridge, Washington, D. C. The 
order was issued by President Roosevelt, February 22, 1909, and 
the contract awarded to J. H. Shelton & Son, Washington, D. C. 
The actual work was done by Mr. James Buchanan Home, a true 
son of Mississippi, who proved his devotion to the memory of your 
distinguished father by this labor of love. 



. 80 

The Confederated Southern Memorial Association rejoices in 
the fact that you were present at the Convention in Richmond, Va., 
June, 1907, when the resolution was adopted asking that the United 
States Government be requested to restore the name of Jefferson 
Davis to its rightful place on the tablet on Cabin John Bridge. 

The members of the Association congratulate you and the 
American people on this truly patriotic and noble action of President 
Roosevelt, which will serve to strengthen our love for this glorious 
Republic. 

Very respectfully, 

DAISY M. L. HODGSON, 

Rec. SecVy C. 8. M. A. 



Colorado Springs. Col., 832 North Cascade Avenue. June 3, 1909. 
Dear Mrs. Behan: 

I am a chronic invalid and a terrible sufferer, and therefore 
write very seldom and very little, but in answer to Miss Hodgson's 
kind letter about Cabin John Bridge, I feel I must thank you for 
the noble and persistent efforts you made; and to you I feel is due 
the restoration of my father's name to its rightful place. * * * 
I hope you are all well, and may God bless you, dear loyal friend 
that you have been to my beloved father's memory. I may never see 
you again in this life, but I will never forget all you have done. 

My greetings and best wishes to the members of the Associa- 
tion, and thanks for their congratulations. With love to you and 
yours, Yours faithfully, 

M. H. J. D. HAYES. 

While it has been stated that at different times efforts have been 
made to have this act of justice done — and I personally am aware 
that Mr. Walter L. Phillips, of Bridgeport, Conn., and Mrs. Longen 
and Mrs. Field, of Missouri, have written letters to Washington 
officials, in an endeavor to have the name restored — I believe I can 
safely assert, however, that the action of the Confederated Southern 
Memorial Association taken in Richmond, Va., June 1. 1907, at its 
Eighth Annual Convention was the first organized effort to have 
the name restored; and we are satisfied that it was through our 
constant and unceasing efforts that President Roosevelt was induc^!d 
to issue the order to restore the name to its rightful place. 

We are deeply grateful to all who assisted in this grand work, 
and are particularly desirous of expressing our appreciation of the 
gracious recognition of our services as contained in General Order 



„li^EJBflB»i»«^- 



ftM 



i ^ ■ ^ 



i i 




C m 



81 

No. 13, issued from United Confederate Veteran Headquarters, and 
which is here attached. Respectfully submitted, 

MRS. W. J. BEHAN, 
Chairman Cabin John Bridge Committee. 

[Editoks Xotk. — The C. S. M. A. regrets that the letters of Mrs. 
Emma Williamson, Historian of the "Joe Desha Chapter", U. D. C. 
Cynthiana, Kentucky, received August 1, 1909, were received too 
late to be mentioned in the report of the president (and chairman of 
the Cabin John Bridge Committee, of the C. S. M. A.), to the C. 8. 
M. A. Convention,. In Memphis, June, 1909. Mrs. Williamson st?Ls 
forth in these two letters, her different conversations with, and ap- 
peals to various officials, to interest them in the restoration of Mr 
Davis' name. These letters are another proof of the general desire 
to have the name restored.] 



t [Memphis, Tenn., June 19, '09.] 

THANK ROOSEVELT AND GEN. WRIGHT. 

Memorial Association Acts — Appreciates Restoration of Davis' 

Name to Cabin John Bridge — Mrs. W. J. Behan, for Nine 

Years President of the Organization, is Again 

Honored by Unanimous Vote — Official 

Badges Adopted. 

Be it resolved. That the Confederated Southern Memorial As- 
sociation, in convention assembled, do hereby extend their grate- 
ful and heartfelt thanks to ex-President Theodore Roosevelt 
and to ex-Secretary of War Luke E. Wright for courtesy shown 
to the Confederated Southern Memorial Association, in restor- 
ing the name of Jefferson Davis to Cabin John Bridge, an act 
of justice which is appreciated by a united country. 

As a heartfelt expression of esteem of the members of the 
Confederated Southern Memorial Association a resolution thank- 
ing ex-President Theodore Roosevelt and ex-Secretary of War 
Luke E. Wright for their part in the restoration of the name of 
Jefferson Davis to the Cabin John Bridge in the city of Wash- 
ington, D. C, was unanimously adopted by the tenth annual con- 
vention of the Confederated Southern Memorial Association as 
introduced by Mrs. C. B. Bryan, the local president, in the after- 
noon session yesterday, and a copy ordered sent to those two 
statesmen, who have again, after long and valued service, en- 
tered the ranks of public spirited citizens. 



82 




June 1, 1909. 

VIRGINIA'S PART IN THE RESTORATION OF THE NAME OP 

JEFFERSON DAVIS TO THE AQUEDUCT, THE CABIN 

JOHN BRIDGE, AT WASHINGTON, DISTRICT 

OF COLUMBIA, U. S. A. 

Report op^ the Virginia Committee, Mrs. J. Enders Robinson, Rich- 
mond, Virginia. 

Mrs. W. J. Behan, President, and members of the Confederated South- 
ern Memorial Association, New Orleans, Louisiana. 

Ladies, — I now have the honor to report Virginia's part in the 
restoration of the name of Jefferson Davis to its place on the famous 
Cabin John Bridge, the aqueduct at Washington, D. C. 

Under date of June 15, 1907, our president, Mrs. Behan, notified 
me of my appointment to the C. S. M. A., Cabin John Bridge Com- 
mittee. I accepted at once. In July, 1907, Mrs. Behan appointed the 
Louisiana Congressman, Mr. Adolph Meyer, to represent the C. S. M. A. 
in all communications with the United States Government relating to 
our object of restoration. 

During the summer of 1907, through correspondence with Mrs. 
Behan, two policies were decided on by Mr. Meyer, General Stephen 
D. Lee, Mrs. Behan, and myself. These policies were: first to avoid 
all newspaper mention, and second, to ask that the name of Mr. Davis 
be restored by a Commission of the War Department. We decided 



83 

that legislation should be our last resort. With these policies clearly 
understood, each one took up the work as assigned. 

Within my jurisdiction (Virginia), there was little to do until 
April, 1908. During that month I learned that the Honorable C. C. 
Carlin, of the Eighth Virginia District, had introduced a bill in Con- 
gress, asking why the name of Jefferson Davis had been erased from 
the bridge. I wrote him inquiring if this was true. He replied as 
follows: 

April 28. 1908. 
Mrs. J. E. RoruNsoN, 113 3d St., South, Richmond Va. : 

Dear Madam, — I have your favor of the 22d inst., and for your 
information will say that I have introduced a Resolution inquiring 
as to the reason for the elimination of the name of Jefferson Davis 
from the arch at Cabin John Bridge, and what steps, if any, have been 
taken to restore same. It is my purpose to press this resolution at 
the fall session of Congress. 

I am glad to know we have a mutual friend in Mrs. A. S. Green. 
I esteem her friendship very highly. Very truly yours, 

C. C. CARLIN. 



Richmond. Va., 113 3d St. South, December 7, 1908. 
HONOR.A.BLE C. C. Caklin, Washington, D. C: 

Dear Sir, — By to-day's mail I enclose you a copy of the Minutes 
of this Association of 1907, with marked pages on a resolution adopted 
to restore the name of Jefferson Davis, ante-bellum Secretary of War, 
to the Cabin John Bridge. 

With this letter I enclose a short account of the efforts of this 
Association for the above end; I will add, that this Association is 
more far-reaching than its name indicates, as it is an association of 
organizations — not of individuals in the usual sense, and I beg that 
you will think well before introducing a bill in Congress, that will 
assuredly arouse feeling in many Confederate men and women repre- 
sented by the C. S. M. A. 

Yours cordially, 

MRS. J. ENDERS ROBINSON, 
Va. Committee on Cahin John Brklge. C. 8. M. A. 



This bill gave me great uneasiness, as legislation was just what we 
wanted to avoid. After much serious thought on the matter, I de- 
cided to postpone definite action until the convening of Congress in 
the following December, 1908. During the summer of 1908 the list 



84 

of officials coming to our aid increased, but a cautious quiet prevailed 
among those friends of our cause. Immediately after Congress con- 
vened, I wrote Mr. C. C. Carlin the following letters on December 7, 
1908. 

Richmond, Va., 113 3d. St. South, December 7, 1908. 
Hon. C. C. Carlin, Washington, D. C: 

Dear Sir, — It having come to the knowledge of the officials of the 
Confederated Southern Memorial Association of New Orleans, La., 
that you intend to introduce a bill in the ensuing Congress of 1908- 
1909 demanding to know of that body why the name of Jefferson 
Davis, Secretary of War, was erased from the Cabin John Bridge, we, 
the officials, inform you with pleasure herein of the progress made by 
the C. S. M. A. to restore the name of Mr. Davis. 

And we plead with you to withhold your bill, believing that by 
its absence our hands will be strengthened, and an advance will be 
made toward restoration; while the presence of such a bill as we un- 
derstand you propose to offer, or in fact the presence of any bill bear- 
ing the name of Cabin John Bridge in relation to Mr. Davis, will tend 
to create confusion and misunderstanding. Furthermore, the worst 
passions of the Grand Army of the Republic, and in turn, of the 
Confederate Veterans, will be engendered, and our good work checked 
for many years to come. Now we implore you, as a Representative 
from a seceding State, as a friend of Confederates, as a citizen wish- 
ing harmony and peace in all sections for the betterment of the United 
States — we implore you to withhold your bill for a year, or more, 
until the C. S. M. A. has time to develop their plans for restoration. 
Relying upon your aid, we submit a summary of the facts: 

CONFEDERATED SOUTHERN MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION. 

June 1. 1907 — Resolution to restore name of Jefferson Davis adopted. 
President instructed to appoint a Cabin John Bridge Committee. 
This she did. 

July, 1907 — President C. S. M. A. wrote to her Congressional Repre- 
sentative, Adolph Meyer, who took the matter up at once, reporting 
to Mrs. Behan that he had several interviews with Mr. Taft, 
Secretary of War, that were most satisfactory. 

1907 — General Stephen D. Lee, Commander-in-Chief, U. C. V., wrote 
Mrs. Behan, giving his active support. 

1908 — On the death of Mr. Adolph Meyer, Mrs. Behan referred the mat- 
ter to Honorable Murphy J. Foster. 

1908 — Another friend was lost by the death of Gen. S. D. Lee. His 
successor. Gen. C. A. Evans, has taken the matter up with en- 
thusiasm. 



85 

Mrs. Behan consulted other prominent men, but the above are di- 
rectly connected with the matter. Now, the one idea common to all 
is, that the matter should progress slowly, and nearly all believe 
that the name should be restored quietly, by the War Department, 
through some Commission. This has always been my view of the 
case. Not wishing to weary you, and believing that you have suffi- 
cient facts to give you a clear idea of our work, I close, renewing my 
plea for your silence. 

Very cordially yours, 

MRS. J. ENDERS ROBINSON. 
Va. Com. Cabin John Bridge, C. 8. M. A- 



HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES U. S. 

Wasiiingtox. D. C, December 11, 1908. 

Mrs. J. E. RoBiNsox, Confederated Southern Memorial Association, 113 
South 3d St., Richmond, Va.: 
Dem- Madam, — I have your favor of the 7th in&t, and for your 
information will say, that I introduced a bill at the first session Qf 
the present Congress for the restoration of the name of Jefferson 
Davis to Cabin John Bridge. Since the receipt of your letter, I do 
not feel disposed to press it at present. I have but one object in 
view, viz., the restoration of the name, and if you think it can be 
accomplished better without legislation, which I very much doubt. I 
am perfectly willing to suspend activity for a while in order that you 
may have an opportunity to work out your ideas. 

Very truly yours, 

C. C. CARLIX. 
Address all communications to House of Representatives. 

This courteous, most considerate, and remarkably wise course, 
toward the C. S. M. A., chosen by Mr. Carlin, gave us renewed con- 
fidence in final success. 



In January and February, 1909, I wrote asking the co-operation 
of our Virginia Governor, our two United States Senators, and our 
Congressional Representatives. On receipt of their replies I mailed 
copies of same to Mrs. Behan, who expressed deep gratitude to Vir- 
ginia. I herein give copy of our Governor's letter, with list of the 
Virginia officials who replied. 



86 

List of Virginia Officials Heard From. 
Senior Senator (U. S.) John W. Daniel. 
Representatives (Congressional): 

od District — John Lamb. 
5th District— E. W. Saunders. 
6th District— Carter Glass. 
7th District — James Hay. 
8th District— C. C. Carlin. 
9th District — Bascom Slemp. 
10th District— H. D. Flood. 
Not Heard From. 
Junior Senator Thomas S. Martin. 
1st District — W. A. Jones. 
2d District— H. D. Maynard. 
4th District— F. R. Lassiter. 
Doubtless in the rush of Congressional duties, these latter gentle- 
men overlooked my letters. 




^.^o^^iA. COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA. 

Go\Ti:RNOR's Office. 

Richmond, January 15, 1909. 
Mrs. J. Endeks Robinson, 

113 South Third Street, Richmond, Va.: 
My Dear Madam, — I am in receipt of your let- 
ter with enclosures^ in reference to Cabin John 
Bridge. In reply will say I will be glad to aid 
in the matter referred to any way I can. 

I return herewith the letters enclosed to me, as requested by you. 
With kind regards and best wishes, I am. 

Very truly yours, CLAUDE A. SWANSON, 
Enclosures. Governor. 

UNITED STATES SENATE. 
Committee on Public Health and National Quarantine. 

Washington, D. C, February 5, 1909. 
Mrs. J. Enders Robinson, 113 South Third Street, Richmond, Va.: 

My Dear Madam. — Acknowledging your esteemed favor about the 
restoration of the name of Jefferson Davis on Cabin John Bridge, I beg 
to say that it commands my consideration and sympathy, and at the 
proper time I will do whatever may be fitting. 

I note the views set forth in copy of your letter to Mr. Carlin, with 
whom I will confer. 

I am, madam, with great respect, Very truly yours, 

JNO. W. DANIEL. 



HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 

Washington, February 8, 1909. 
Mrs. J. Endkus Roiunso.x, Va. Comr. Cabin .John Bridge, 113 S. Third 
Street, Richmond, Va.: 
My Dear Madam, — T am in receipt of your favor of the 8th and 
hasten to say that I shall gladly co-operate with our friends in re- 
storing the name of Jefferson Davis to the Cabin .John Bridge. It will 
be an agreeable duty to aid in honoring in any way the memory of 
Davis and of assisting you ladies in this cause. 

Yours very truly, JOHN LAMB. 



HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 
Committee ox Elections Xo. 1, 

Rocky Mouxt. Va., February 9, 1909. 
Mrs. J. E. Roiuxsox. Richmond, Va.: 

Dear Madam, — I am in receipt of your letter of the 8th inst., re- 
lating to the matter of restoring to the "Cabin John Bridge", the 
name of Jefferson Davis, and beg to assure you that I will take great 
pleasure in aiding you to the accomplishment of your purpose, in 
any way possible. Yours very truly, 

E. W. SAUNDERS. 



HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES U. S. 

Washington, D. C. February 12, 1909. 
Mrs. J. E. Robinson. 113 Third St.. South. Richmond. Va.: 

My Dear Mrs. Robinson. — Referring to your letter of recent date, 
having reference to the restoration of the name of Mr. Davis to the 
Cabin John Bridge, I beg to say that it will give me great pleasure to 
co-operate with my associates in Congress in an effort to induce the 
War Department to replace Mr. Davis' name on that structure. I 
quite agree with you that it would be better to restore it through the 
War Department than by legislation. 

Very respectfully yours, CARTER GLASS. 



COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AFFAIRS. 
HousK OF Representatives U. S. 

Wasiiincton. February 8, 1909. 
Mrs. J. Enders Robin.son. 113 South Third Street, Richmond. Va.: 

My Dear Madam, — I have your letter with regard to the restora- 
tion of the name of President Davis to the Cabin John Bridge, and 
can assure you that T will take pleasure in doing what I can to bring 
about this restoration. Yours very truly, 

JAMES HAY. 



88 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 

Committee on Accounts. 

Washington, February 9, 1909. 
Mrs. J. E. Robinson, Richmond, Va.: 

Dear Madam,, — I am in receipt of your letter of the 8th inst. in 
regard to Cabin John Bridge. I will be glad to co-operate with you in 
the matter. Yours truly, 

C. B. SLEMP. 



HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 

Washington, February 13, 1909. 
Mrs. J. E. Robinson, Richmond, Va.: 

Dear Maddm, — ^Your letter in reference to the move to restore the 
name of Jefferson Davis to the Cabin John Bridge, has been received, 
and I write to say that I will aid the movement to the extent of 
my ability. 

Sincerely yours, 

H. D. FLOOD. 



These replies received prove Virginia the same patriot as of 
old, and ready with hearty accord to join Louisiana in pleading for 
the restoration to one of the pages of history of the name of Jefferson 
Davis, known to all men as of quiet dignity in prosperity, and of calm 
greatness in adversity. 

I cannot close without expressing my admiration for the unassum- 
ing executive ability, the tact, and the judgment that our President, 
Mrs. W. J. Behan, has shown in bringing to the aid of the C. S. M. A. 
the co-operation of the highest Confederate and Federal officials, for 
this grand work of restoring the name of Jefferson Davis to the 
Cabin John Bridge Aqueduct, at Washington, D. C., U. S. 

A last word for the genuine patriot, Mr. J. B. Home, who, with 
his own hands re-surfaced the whole face of the tablet in the bridge, and 
then re-carved the entire inscription. To him we owe deepest and 
perpetual gratitude, and his name should be taught to our children 
forever. 

With great distress at my enforced absence from our Convention, 
and from the ever-glorious gathering of our beloved Veterans, I am. 
Most sincerely yours, 

MRS. J. ENDERS ROBINSON, 
(Virginia Morgan). 
Virginia Committee, of Cabin John Bridge. C. S. M. A. 




GEXERAL CLEMENT A. EVANS, 



Commander-in-chief 
nounced officially t 



)f the United Confederate Veterans, who an- 
I Confederates the restoration of the name. 




Hkadouakticks United Confedekatk Veterans ) 
Ni:w Okleanp, May 21, l'X)V ^ 

Geniokai. Okdeks 
No. 13 

I. The General Commanding has pleasure in expressing 
the satisfaction he feels in announcing officially that the name of 
JEFFP]RSON DAVIS has been restored to the tablet on " Cabin 
John Bridge." As Secretary of War of the United States he had 
l)een largely instrumental in constructing this aqueduct, and to 
note this fact his name with others had been placed on the tablet; 
l:)ut, during the War between the States, partisans caused it to be 
chiseled off, Mr. Davis being at that time the President of the 
Confederate States. By this restoration an act of justice has been 
done to one of America's greatest statesmen. The fact is in itself 
trivial, but it is momentous in significance; It emphasizes the 
truth that our countrymen will recognize worth; that Mr. Davis, 
who was thoroughly Southern in his sentiments, can be truly, 
valued by those who were once his enemies, and that he was 
actuated by lofty motives and conceptions of duty, as were other 
statesmen and soldiers of the Confederacy. 

II. - It is possible that this desirable I'esult would never 
have been reached had not our glorious women taken the matter in 
liand and pushed it to completion. The Confederated Southern 
Memorial Association stai-ted the work-in 1907, and Mrs. J. Enders 
Robinson, of Richmond, and Mrs. W. J. Behan, of New Orleans, 
assisted by the U. D. C. and kindred organizations, have the thanks 
of all Confedei-ates for tlie accomplishment of this work. 

]^y command of 

CLEMENT A. EVANS, 

General Commanding. 
Official: 



Adjutant-General and Chief of Staff. 



89 

[Extract from the Minutes of the Confederate Reunion held in Mem- 
phis, Tenn., June, 1909.] 

COL. GUION'S ADDRESS. 

Mr. Commander, Comrades, Ladies and Gentlemen: During the 
time that Franklin Pierce was President of the United States, and Jeff- 
erson Davis was his Secretary of War, a number of important works 
were projected. 

One of the most important, and as a splendid exhibition of engi- 
neering skill, was the Cabin John Bridge. As many of you know, this 
was a massive stone bridge spanning with a single arch two hundred 
and twenty feet in length, the Cabin John Creek, and by an aqueduct 
bringing water to the city of Washington from the falls of the Potomac. 

On the arch was cut the names of Franklin Pierce, President of 
the United States, and Jefferson Davis, Secretary of War, to commem- 
orate the commencement of this work. 

In 1862, by an order of the Secretary of the Interior, the name of 
Jefferson Davis was erased. This was done when sectional feeling 
was very strong in the North against Jefferson Davis, who was then 
President of the Confederate States of America, and while the act can- 
not be condoned, it can be understood, when we consider the bitter 
feeling then existing. It suffices to say, that the act of erasure was 
not a wise one, because Jefferson Davis was then the Secretary of War, 
and the chipping of his name from the arch did not destroy a historical 
fact, and the erasure only accentuated it. I am glad to say that in 
the last few years a much more liberal opinion is being expressed by 
many in the North as to the character and reputation of Jefferson Da- 
vis, and they are beginning to understand him, and give him his true 
place in history. 

(One of the recent pleasant incidents, and which has caused a 
warm glow in the hearts of the Confederate soldiers, is the splendid 
action of Captain Fremont and Commander McCormick, in the cere- 
monies connected with the presentation of the silver service from the 
State of Mississippi to the warshij) Mississijijy', and on which appeared 
the bust of Jefferson Davis.) 

This act of erasure has always been resented by the Southern peo- 
ple, and a number of Confederate women have been particularly active 
in the good work of having the name of Jefferson Davis restored to the 
arch, and we now have the pleasure of knowing that this act of justice 
has been done, and that the work of restoration fell to the lot of a 
Mississippi workman. 

General Orders No. 1,3, from Headquarters of United Confederate 
Veterans, properly pays tribute due to the act of restoration and to 
the part played by Confederate women: 



90 

The following are the resolutions alluded to by Col. Guion, which 
were offered by Major J. W. Gaines, of Army of Tennessee, Camp No. 
2. of New Orleans, and were adopted by the Convention: 

It is but right and proper that the United Confederate Veterans 
here assembled in annual Convention in the City of Memphis, Tenn., 
should give expression of their approval of the order recently issued 
by Ex-President Roosevelt, for the restoration of the name of Jefferson 
Davis on the tablet of Cabin John Bridge, Washington, D. C. 

This act of justice must commend Itself to every true American 
patriot and will place the name of Jefferson Davis where it rightfully 
belongs as a matter of history; therefore, be it 

Resolved. That we, the United Confederate Veterans, do express 
our appreciation to the United States Government for this recognition 
of the services of Jefferson Davis, Secretary of War, and for his furth- 
er proof of the desire of the Federal Government to blot out all that 
remains of sectional prejudice and thus unite this great people under 
one banner; and furthermore, be it 

Resolved, That we express our thanks to the Confederated South- 
ern Memorial Association for its action in bringing this subject so 
forcibly to the minds and attention of the oflRcials at Washington by 
the adoi)tion of a resolution to this effect at its annual Convention in 
Richmond, June 1st. 1907. 



[Telegram.] 

Washington. D. C, July 14, 1909. 
Mrs. W. J. Behan. New Orleans, La. 

I have tools paid fifty dollars will write. 

SAMUEL E. LEWIS, M. D. 



AFFIDAVIT OF JAMES BUCHANAN HORNE, STONECUTTER. 

The Washington Aqueduct, known as Cabin John Bridge, forms 
part of the system which supplies the city of Washington, D. C, with 
water. It is 420 feet in length, its span is 250 feet — one of the largest 
stone arches in the world. It was begun building in 1S53, while 
Jefferson Davis, of the State of Mississippi, was Secretary of War. 
During the War between the States the name of Jefferson Davis 
was erased through order of Caleb B. Smith, Secretary of the In- 
terior, by John Babbinger, a stone-cutter workman. In 1909, Presi- 
dent Roosevelt ordered the name to be restored. J. B. Home, a stone- 
cutter from Moss Point, Miss., subcontracted the work from the 
original contractor for the sum of $127.75. He began the work of 
restoration Tuesday, April 13th. The completion of the restoration of 




JAMES BUCHANAN HORxNE, 

And the tools that were used for the first and the last time on the 

restoration. They will be deposited in the Davis Annex of the 

Memorial Hall, in New Orleans. The tools are now 

owned by Mrs. W. J. Behan. 



91 

the name of Jefferson Davis was effected Friday, May 14, 1909. The 
dressing of the work and final completion was ended May 19, 1909. 

The tablet was of the dismensions of 5 feet high by 11 feet long, 
embracing an area of 55 square feet. It was necessary to remove the 
entire inscription to a depth of one inch, and re-cut the same 
with the restoration of the name of President Davis. 

The tools with which this work was done consisted of twenty-four 
chisels and one hammer bought new for that work, and have never 
been used on any other work. These aforesaid tools are hereby sold 
to Mrs. Katie Walker Behan, of New Orleans, Louisiana, this 14th 
day of July, 1909, for the sum of fifty dollars, and are herewith turn- 
ed over to her. 

Washington, D. C. July 14, 1909. J. B. HORNE. 

District of Columbia, ss. : 

On this 14th day of July, A. D. 1909, personally appeared before 
me the said J. B. Home, who being duly sworn, according to law, de- 
clared the matter and things set forth in the foregoing instrument to 
be true and correct to the best of his knowledge and belief, and thef 
execution of same his act and deed. JOHN L. FLETCHER, 

[Seal.] Notary Public, D. C. 

Washington, D. C, July 18, 1909. 
Mrs. J. Enders Robinson, Richmond, Va.: 

My Dear Madam, — I thank you for the favor of the information 
and suggestions contained in your note, and the copy of the letter writ- 
ten Mrs. Behan. 

In attending to the matter entrusted to my hands by Mrs. Behan, I 
shall endeavor to safeguard beyond question the identity of the tools 
and the legal transfer to Mrs. Behan. 

I am very glad to learn that my letter to Mrs. Behan met withl 
your approval. Yours very respectfully, 

SAMUEL E. LEWIS, M. D. 
Chainnan Monumental Committee U. C. Veterans. 



LETTER FROM HON. ALBERT ESTOPIXAL, LOUISIANA MEMBER 
OF CONGRESS. 

Washington. D. C, July 19. 1909. 
Mrs. W. J. Bkiian. New Orleans, La.: 

My Dear Mrs. Behan, — Immediately upon receipt of your wire, 
requesting me to see Dr. Lewis regarding the tools, I sent 
my secretary to Mr. Home's residence and learned that Dr. Lewis had 
just been there and purchased the tools. The evening of the same 
day the Doctor called on me to inform me of that fact. I am vei^ 
glad you secured the tools, as I consider that you are rightfully en- 



92 

titled to them. No one furnished with the facts leading to the re- 
storation of the original inscription on Cabin John Bridge can ques- 
tion the efficiency of your splendid work in bringing about that re- 
sult, and the claim of no other person to the credit can be seriously 
maintained. Very respectfully yours, 

ALBERT ESTOPINAL. 



Washington, D. C, July 31, 1909. 
Dear Mks, Beiian: 

To-day I succeeded in getting all the tools marked by Mr. Home. I 
think you will readily understand the inscriptions. I had to purchase 
for the work a set of steel letters at $2.20, and I paid Mr. Home $5.00. 
I am arranging to have a suitable box made for the tools, which 
will serve as a cabinet. I finally concluded it best to have that work 
done here, as it will avoid handling of the tools by strangers, and 
possible loss, should the matter be delayed to be done in New Orleans. 

Herewith I hand you Memorandum Sketch, which is descriptive and 
should be preserved. It is rather crude, but practical. I am sorry 
it is not in better style. Yours respectfully, 

SAMUEL E. LEWIS, M. D. 
Chairman Monumental Committee U. C. Veterans. 



FINAL REPOSITORY OF THE TOOLS. 

New Orleans. La.. 1207 Jackson Ave., August 7, 1909. 

Mrs, J. Enders Robinson. Chairman "Cabin John Bridge" Publication 
Committee, Richmond. Va.: 
My Dear Mrs. Robinson. —In reply to your question as to the dis- 
position of the tools, I desire to state that the tools used in the re^ 
storaticn of the name of Jefferson Davis on Cabin John Bridge will 
be placed in the Jefferson Davis Annex at Memorial Hall in New 
Orleans. 

Tlie Jefferson Davis Annex of Memorial Hall in New Orleans con- 
tains many precious relics of the President of the Confederate States 
of America, and of his daughter "Winnie," the Daughter of the Confed- 
eracy. The Annex has been set apart exclusively for the relics of the 
Davis family. 

At present the tools are the property of Mrs. W. J. Behan, oC 
New Orleans, La. 

Yours very fraternally, 

MRS. W. J. BEHAN, 
President C. S. M. A. 



93 




The original drawing of the above will be deposited with the tools 
Memorial Hall, New Orleans, La. 



95 

Ni<:\v OitLKANS, L^\., 1207 Jackson Ave., August 7, 1909 
vlus. J. E.NDEKS Roiti.wsoN, Richmoiid, Va. : 

My Dear- Mrs. Robinson, — You are hereby appointed Chairman of 
the "Cabin John Bridge" Publication Committee, of the Confederated 
southern Memorial Association. 

You are vested with full authority to contract for the printing of 
•I book to contain a record of all that relates to the restoration of the 
lame Jefferson Davis, on Cabin John Bridge, at Washington, D. C, 
IS executed under the direction of the "Cabin John Bridge" Committee 
of the Confederated Southern Memorial Association. 

The cost of publication to be according to estimate submitted by the 
Richmond Press, Inc., of Richmond, Va., the size of edition, 
time of delivery, proof-reading, and all other details are left in your 
hands. As Chairman of this Publication Committee you will solicit 
subscriptions from Memorial Associations and other parties inter- 
ested, and have said subscriptions made payable to you. 
Yours very fraternally, 

MRS. W. J. BEHAN, 
President C. S. M. A. 



OCT 12 1909 



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